September 18, 2011

Today, we saw a Giant Swallowtail as it flew down Preston Road, stopping a couple of times on sapling foliage, before finally flying north of the one-lane bridge and up the river out of site. Location: Crowe River at Preston Road and Fish Hatchery Road, east of Cordova Mines, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Read more…

August 28, 2011

We have had at least one Giant Swallowtail around our place (near Stewart Hall) for at least two weeks. They traverse the west facing edge of our maple bush edge and lite in sunny patches of low shrubs and trees as well as feeding (?) on fragrant white phlox, yellow Read more…

August 27, 2011

At about 7:45 p.m. this evening, we too had a visit from a Giant Swallowtail in our front yard at 51 Maple Crescent in the west end of Peterborough. I saw a second one on August 29 near Lily Lake on the rail-trail. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

August 16, 2011

Today, at the boat launch off the far east end of Round Lake Road, I watched a Giant Swallowtail flitting about and occasionally landing on leaves, for about a minute, before it disappeared into a farm field across the road. Location: Round Lake, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Twsp Observer: Tim Dyson

August 7, 2011

These last few days I have watched as jet-black, 1 and 1/4 inch Great Black Wasps (Sphex pensylvanicus) have been depositing dead or paralysed Praying Mantis into the skimmer box of my pool. So far, they have put more than a dozen mantis in the skimmer, entering by small holes Read more…

July 27, 2011

Last night we wandered past our pond and were able to get a good look at three Green Herons. We see them flying over, but not often this close, hopping around in the trees. I think there are one adult and four or five young. The one at least looked Read more…

July 19, 2011

On the drive into work this morning 7:30 am spotted three Sandhill Cranes in the field at the corner of Smith 14th concession and Birchbend Rd. near Upper Chemong Lake. Location: Upper Chemong Lake Observer: Fred Irons

June 29, 2011

We saw another Indigo Bunting this evening while walking the dog along the road directly south of the airport (Moncrief Line). It was sitting on a wire above the bridge, vocalizing its dual-noted song. Sherry Hambly Location: Moncrief Line Observer: Sherry Hambly

June 5, 2011

I saw a singing male Blue-grey Gnatcatcher on May 10 on River Rd (between Hope Mill Rd and David Fife Line) in Otonabee Township. I haven’t seen one this far north before and was wondering if they are regularly seen in the County. (Note: Gnatcatchers are in fact quite rare Read more…

June 5, 2011

I heard this very different bird call today..never heard it before. It was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It was in my backyard here in Kawartha Hideway, north shore of Buckhorn Lake. Is this a rare sighting? (Note: Yellow-billed Cuckoo is certainly far less common than Black-billed in Peterborough Co. and might Read more…

June 5, 2011

Sitting on the deck at the Silver Bean Cafe at Millenium Place in downtown Peterborough this morning, we enjoyed great Fair Trade coffee, along with the calls of Osprey, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Kingbird, Chimney Swift, Barn Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, and Song Sparrow. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Read more…

June 3, 2011

During a three-day stay at Camp Kawartha, I observed the following species of interest: Eastern Towhee, Blackpoll Warbler (late migrant), Magnolia Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow, and Barred Owl. There were also many Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies flying, along with thousands of Common Baskettail dragonflies. Some of the Read more…

June 3, 2011

This evening, a Common Nighthawk flew over a friend’s house in the west end of Peterborough. This is the first nighthawk I’ve seen in Peterborough this year. Location: Westbrook Drive Observer: Drew Monkman

June 2, 2011

We often walk our dog on the Hooten Road portion of Cavan swamp and this year I have discovered two hairy woodpecker nests along the road – both within 10 to 30 feet of the road – one in a dead aspen, the other in a dead tree (not sure Read more…

June 1, 2011

I walked a favourite small section of road in Duoro-Dummer Tsp today and counted 227 blooms of Northern Small Yellow Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin), The Showy Lady

May 27, 2011

Today, we spotted a Gray Catbird in our backyard, a species we had not seen before. Then on June 2 we several times heard a cry that sounded like a cat meowing very loudly. We didn

May 19, 2011

Last night Peter Lin and I watched the Chimney Swifts enter their roost in the white brick chimney on the building to the east of WildRock and visibile from the laneway behind their store (just south of Charlotte Street). Starting at around 8 pm the number of swifts flying overhead Read more…

May 15, 2011

Yesterday, in our back yard, we had an Eastern Towhee, and then today in the same location, we had a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. Location: Peterborough Observer: Don Finigan

May 15, 2011

Two Sandhill Cranes were seen this morning at Miller Creek Conservation Area during the PFN Sunday Morning bird walk. The birds were 100 feet straight out from the viewing tower, about two-thirds of the way between the tower and the patch of open water. One of the birds appeared to Read more…

May 14, 2011

I saw the strangest thing last week. Well, strange for the 7th line of Smith. I was driving along about 1km from the Miller Creek CA and had to break for an Otter. He was crossing from a marshy area to the woods. I have lived there and walked my Read more…

May 13, 2011

We have lots of birds coming to our house this spring. I put out oranges on the fence post for orioles and now we have one! We put out our oriole and hummingbird feeders and in about an hour, the oriole and a hummingbird were at the feeders! Here are Read more…

May 13, 2011

I saw my first hatch Canada Geese today at the creek behind Country Style on Cty Rd. #35, south of Hwy#7. There were at least 8 goslings. Location: County Road 35 Observer: Rick Stankiewicz

May 12, 2011

This morning at Miller Creek Conservation Area, there was a Sandhill Crane which appeared to be on its nest. It is 75-100m from the viewing platform towards the only open water of the stream you can see at “1 o’clock”. The camouflage is great – it could easily be overlooked. Read more…

May 12, 2011

This morning, a Yellow-throated Vireo could be heard singing from an adjacent Manitoba Maple. This is a first for the year (and yard) for me. Location: Peterborough Observer: Don Sutherland

May 8, 2011

Today, I saw a Belted Kingfisher on Young’s Point Road. It was on a hydro wire on a section of the road that is essentially waterfront. In the afternoon I had a male Red-Breasted Grosbeak at my feeder. Location: Young’s Point Road and Bridgenorth Observer: Tara Harrington