Barred Owl (Strix varia) (1) – Reported Oct 28, 2018 07:35 by Tim Haan – 169 Pencil Lake Road, Kinmount, Ontario, CA (44.816, -78.364), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S49525404 Barred Owl (Strix varia) (1) – Reported Oct 28, 2018 16:25 by Tim Haan – 6152 Ontario 28, Woodview, Read more…
Peterborough Field Naturalists Sunday AM Nature Walk (Sept. 30) Today, a group of us walked along the hydro corridor west of Hetherington Dr. (just south of Woodland) and into the north end of University Heights Park. We enjoyed the abundant asters (e.g., New England, Heath, Panicled, Heart-leaved), Zig-Zag Goldenrod, White Read more…
Additional obstacles to taking action on climate change When Al Gore described climate change as an inconvenient truth, it was a mamoth understatement. In fact, it is more like a perfect storm. As I argued last week, a huge number of obstacles make it near impossible for humans to engage Read more…
Low turnout at climate rallies highlights the huge disconnect between the evidence for catastrophic climate impacts and a sense of urgency for action Last Saturday, with its sunny skies and cool temperatures, was a beautiful day for a rally. More than 150 people showed up for Peterborough’s “Rise for Climate” Read more…
Looking ahead to events in nature after another summer marked by climate change As it was in the summers of both 2016 and 2017, the biggest story of the past three months has been the weather chaos unleashed on planet Earth by climate change. Just in Canada, we saw the Read more…
Black Bear at Chemong Lake Just a report of a Black Bear on August 1. It was large. I couldn’t get a photo as I wasn’t going to open the door. It came right up to our roadside door as I was standing there and yelling for my husband to Read more…
Another fox in city dining on Gray Squirrels There was a large number of squirrels in our neighbourhood. Then came a large, gray-coloured fox, easily the size of my fifty pound Springer Spaniel. I’d often see it at first light, and thrice seen carrying a black-phase Gray Squirrel. The squirrel Read more…
Get up close and personal to nature while reducing your carbon footprint “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best.” Ernest Hemingway Riding a bicycle can be a wonderful way to engage with nature and the changing seasons. The feeling of setting off Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Jul 05, 2018 11:50 by Sheila Collett – engleburn ave, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Sitting on the edge of one of the islands off our back yard for about 10 minutes and then flew up into a willow tree Read more…
Flocking provides many benefits but questions remain “How early in the year it begins to be late” Henry David Thoreau Nature plays a cruel joke on us in early July. Just as summer is getting started, intimations of autumn can already be seen. One such sign is the formation of Read more…
We have a peanut feeder in front of the kitchen sink. We have had Hairy, Downy and occasionally a female Pileated visiting the feeder. This past week or so both Downy and Hairy have been bringing their young. Both seem to have male and female babies, and the parents are Read more…
This year we’ve had at least four Painted Turtles which all came up late afternoon on June 9th. We covered over three possible nest sites, though one is never sure if eggs have been deposited. One unknown nest excavated in a grassy slope has been raided. And for the first Read more…
A preview of summer nature events with a nod to climate change Now that summer has officially arrived, I want to look ahead to some of the events in nature that we can expect over the next three months. As a result of climate change, however, the actual timing of Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Jun 27, 2018 08:58 by Martyn Obbard – Gannon Pond, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Crouched at water’s edge. Yellow legs. Black crown, white breast. Good look with binoculars.”
by Amy Harder, in AXIOS – June 25, 2018 Climate change is intangible and complicated, which makes it an easy target for our era of fake news. Why it matters: Addressing climate change, whether through government or private action, requires acknowledging a problem exists. Misinformation about the science, including Read more…
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (1) – Reported Jun 22, 2018 07:10 by Chris Risley – Hwy 38 at RR crossing, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “heard calling and giving whistle” American Redstart & House Wren (June 20) Lots of American Read more…
Last of a three-part series exploring local nature destinations This week, I will conclude my exploration of some of the best nature-viewing areas in the Kawarthas – and beyond – by looking at destinations located mostly south of Peterborough. Almost all of these areas offer excellent opportunities to see a Read more…
Purple Finches (since early May) This year, for the first time, we have Purple Finches coming to our feeder. They arrived in early May. I first noted a male, who showed a cinnamon, chestnut-reddish coloured head and body which morphed into a rose/raspberry by the end of May. The females Read more…
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) (1) – Reported Jun 15, 2018 07:04 by Luke Berg – Deer Bay Reach Road, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Media: 1 Audio – Comments: “Singing, east side of the road at 155 Deer Bay Reach Rd. Got a fairly good look at it Read more…
Part 2 of a 3 part series This week, I would like to continue my exploration of some of the best nature-viewing areas in the Kawarthas by looking at destinations located mostly north of Peterborough. I have started in the northeast with the Carden Alvar near Kirkfield and worked eastward Read more…
Part 1 of a 3 part series on local nature destinations People often ask me where they should go to see birds and other wildlife. My initial answer is usually “just about anywhere.” Although this is true, I realize that a little more detail might be helpful. This week I’d Read more…
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (1) – Reported Jun 03, 2018 05:57 by Chris Risley – Jones Quarter Line and Bland Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “previously reported, heard giving dry buzz song, then seen” Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (1) Read more…
After almost 8 months of wintering over, moisturizing, hovering and nail biting, the moth has finally emerged from the cocoon I found in the leaf litter last October. I even took the cocoon camping with me – I did not want to miss the big event! Introducing my Polyphemus moth. Read more…
I came from the Coe Hill area and we had 2 kinds of large turtles (still do). Both types are very dark, grow to about 16″ – 18″ in diameter, very aggressive. The main difference is one has a smooth shell and one has a spiked shell, 1 row on Read more…
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) (1) – Reported Jun 01, 2018 12:33 by Thomas Unrau – Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island (Kawartha Land Trust), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Good visual id- full white wing bars. Good song” Sora (Porzana carolina) (2) – Read more…
All eight species of Ontario turtles are now designated as at risk With the arrival of June, turtles are once again on the move. Unfortunately, this migration often involves a hazardous trek across busy roads and highways. Clearly, a turtle’s shell is no match for the crushing weight of a Read more…
Whimbrels, Dunlin and Cattle Egret: Seen in Brighton, Ontario, on May 27. Don Munro Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) (1) – Reported May 26, 2018 11:03 by Bill Crins – Lakefield–Sewage Lagoons, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Read more…
I’ve just returned from my annual birding trip to Point Pelee and Rondeau parks in southwestern Ontario. And, yes, the birds of spring were present in all their diversity and beauty. Every year, however, I notice something deeply unsettling: the reduction in abundance. Take the Wood Thrush, for example. Instead Read more…
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) (1) – Reported May 23, 2018 07:23 by Donald A. Sutherland – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “singing” Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (1) – Reported May 21, 2018 09:11 by Iain Rayner Read more…
Great Horned Owl: I took this owlet picture yesterday, May 17, at a nest 1 km west of Springbrook, Ontario. Don Munro Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) (1) – Reported May 17, 2018 11:45 by Ben Taylor – Peterborough–Mervin Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Read more…