May 1, 2009

At dusk tonight, my wandering eye checked the feeders and what should appear comfortably perched in the big pine tree but a mother Black Bear and her little cub. She looked at me, 3 ft. away and quickly unfurled herself, slid down the trunk, and lumbered across the yard to Read more…

May 1, 2009

This morning I saw my first Chimney Swifts of the year (about six) flying above the intersection of Hunter and George in downtown Peterborough. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

April 30, 2009

Today I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker on Geraldine Avenue in Peterborough. At the Trent Nature Area on the canal side, there were Spotted sandpiper (1), Fox sparrow (2), Palm warbler (5), Yellow-rumped warbler (10) and Pied-billed grebe (3). They were 15 feet away from me! Location: Peterborough and Trent Nature Read more…

April 30, 2009

At least two and possibly three American Bitterns and two Soras were very vocal at Millers Creek (7th line of Smith-Ennismore, 1 km east of Bridgenorth) this morning (5:45 to 6:15 a.m.). Also a single Virginia Rail was calling from the Lakefield Marsh at 7:15 a.m. A Warbling Vireo was Read more…

April 29, 2009

I saw an Eastern Kingbird this morning at the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary. There were also Palm warblers (3) Whip-poor- will (1 heard), House wren, (1) Winter wren (1), and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1). Location: Trent Wildlife Sanctuary Observer: Luke Berg

April 28, 2009

We had a few new birds show up this morning in the yard; 2 male Baltimore Orioles, a White-crowned Sparrow in the brushpile, and a Yellow Warbler in lilacs. I mentioned in my last posting about the straggling American Tree Sparrows at my place. There was at least one still Read more…

April 28, 2009

At the Trent Nature Area on the canal side today, I saw Pied-billed grebe (2) – Green heron (2) doing courtship display – Yellow-rumped warbler (15) – Hooded Merganser (1) – Female Ring-necked pheasant (1) – Brown Thrasher (1) – Northern Mockingbird (1) – Caspian tern (2) two weeks now Read more…

April 27, 2009

Lakefield Sewage Lagoons – Bufflehead (55) – Ring-necked duck (11) – Common goldeneye (16) – Barrow’s goldeneye (1) – Lesser scaup (3) – Greater scaup (6) – Common loon (1) – Greater yellowlegs (1) Location: Lakefield Observer: Luke Berg

April 27, 2009

On April 25, my parents had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at their bird feeder on University Rd.. Today, across the road from their house, they heard a male Ovenbird on territory. Location: University Road, Peterborough Observer: Peter Burke

April 26, 2009

On the rail trail north of Trent University yesterday, we had Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, a single Bank Swallow. There were also heavy choruses of Chorus Frog, Spring Peeper, Wood Frog and Northern Leopard Frog. On our return to the parking lot on the north side of East Bank Read more…

April 25, 2009

This afternoon, I found a male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE at the Lakefield Sewage Ponds in Lakefield. The bird was swimming in the first pond (the one nearest the road) with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup. To reach the Lakefield Sewage Ponds take Hwy 28 N (formerly Highway 134) Read more…

April 25, 2009

The Bloodroot in my garden was in full bloom today, along with Hepatica. Coltsfoot is in full bloom, too, along roadsides throughout the area. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

April 22, 2009

This morning, a Brown Thrasher foraged in the leaf litter in our garden. A few metres away, female Red-bellied Woodpecker fed on suet. This bird has be an irregular visitor to our feeders since Dec 17. Also present is a single Fox Sparrow, a dozen Pine Siskins, and five Purple Read more…

April 21, 2009

I don’t if many others still have American Tree Sparrows around their feeders, but today I still have about 10-12 hanging out in the bushpiles and eating crack corn. I thought it was getting rather late for these birds. Also of note, yesterday I had a small flock (~6-8) Bohemian Read more…

April 19, 2009

I saw my first Chipping Sparrow of the year this morning at my feeder. The Fox Sparrow is still present in our yard and singing non-stop. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

April 18, 2009

A quick trip to Little Lake yielded Common Loon – 1 Double-crested Cormorant – 6 (beautiful “double crests” on some of them) Lesser Scaup – 2 Mallard – 4 Bufflehead – 7 Northern Flicker – 2 (at Little Lake Cemetary) Eastern Phoebe – 3 (at the Ecology Park) Black-capped Chickadee Read more…

April 18, 2009

This morning, I checked out the Lakefield Marsh and the Lakefield Sewage Ponds. At the sewage ponds (I only checked the first pond) there were quite a number of ducks as follows: Bufflehead – 150 Ring-necked Duck – 50 Lesser Scaup – 20 Common Goldeneye – 6 Hooded Merganser – Read more…

April 17, 2009

Today (1730h -1815h) while walking the dogs along the rail trail north of Trent U, we heard several strong choruses of Northern Leopard Frog, as well as strong choruses of Chorus Frog, and lesser ones of both Wood Frog and Spring Peeper. We also heard and saw a Hermit Thrush. Read more…

April 15, 2009

Also, the frogs the Wood Frogs are quacking like crazy today. The Eastern Bluebirds have come back to our vineyard again for the third year. Also, saw the first Tree Swallows arrived today, circling the bluebird box. We also observed nesting activity on the part of a pair of Pileated Read more…

April 15, 2009

This morning at about 6:30 AM I watched two Ospreys carrying nesting materials to the man-made nesting platform in front of the Federation of Anglers and Hunters building on Guthrie Drive in the city

April 14, 2009

I saw a Wild Turkey hen race across the bike path at the edge of Jackson Park (between the Parkhill bridge and Bonaccord St.) Location: Jackson Park, Peterborough Observer: Laura Gardner