On September 7, a Black Swallowtail caterpillar, was making its way up our gravelled drive. I moved it to a safer location. On September 9 and 10, we had another new caterpillar in our front garden. It is a fifth Read more…
I was out walking on our land in Omemee on September 16 and came across several clusters of large Shaggy Mane mushrooms. I think they are beautiful! Ruthanne Sobiera
Meredith Carter and our planting crew found this yellowish caterpillar in Lakefield this Saturday during the TD Tree Planting event. I found a similar looking caterpillar – but more light green and pink – in late August up north in Read more…
Last February, I photographed this Barred Owl, which was perched on my phone cable – 20′ from the front of the house, in Selwyn Township, just south of Lakefield. About 30′ to each side of him/her were my 2 bird Read more…
Over the last two weeks, we tagged and released all of the Monarchs we raised in the classroom. I’m also sending along two photos I took of a Giant Swallowtail at Elmhirst Resort on Rice Lake this past weekend. Stephanie Read more…
Now’s the time to take in the beauty of autumn at Ontario Parks! The 2017 Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report is LIVE! Check for the latest colour changes in up to 60 provincial parks across Ontario by using the report’s Read more…
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) (1) – Reported Sep 22, 2017 08:09 by McLean Smith – 2 Woodland Dr, Peterborough CA-ON (44.3634,-78.2926), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.363432,-78.292649&ll=44.363432,-78.292649 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39331356 – Comments: “I am not 100% certain as to the ID Read more…
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) (1) – Reported Sep 22, 2017 10:30 by Scott McKinlay – Millbrook Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.1492506,-78.4480704&ll=44.1492506,-78.4480704 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39345272 – Comments: “Seen with a solitary sandpiper on a mud bar in Millbrook pond. Read more…
Myriad threats and declines evident in the Kawarthas, too Living in a country as big and relatively unpopulated as Canada, it might come as a surprise that much of our wildlife is in serious decline. This was made abundantly clear Read more…
Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) (1) – Reported Sep 20, 2017 12:00 by Matthew Garvin – PTBO – Edgewater road and Railway, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.299988,-78.31236&ll=44.299988,-78.31236 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39300375 – Media: 6 Photos – Comments: “Diminutive white goose similar in Read more…
A beautiful September morning greeted the ten early risers who took part in the Peterborough Field Naturalist’s Sunday A.M. nature walk today. We spent most of our time in the Promise Rock area of the Rotary-Greenway Trail, just north of Read more…
For anyone paying attention, the biggest story of the past summer has been the fury unleashed by planet Earth as a result of climate change. As Clive Hunter, an Australian public intellectual, said on CBC Radio’s Ideas recently, “What we’re Read more…
At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 3, residents in the Tobin Court and Evans Dr area in the north end of the city, reported the sudden death of 12 Mallard ducks. Earlier a group of 14 ducks was observed Read more…
My photo of a Great Blue Heron with a crayfish in its beak. Taken at Millbrook on 31-August-2017 ~ 2:00 p.m. Trudy Gibson
I observed a Great Egret on the Indian River in Warsaw. It was right behind Warsaw Public School. The bird came several evenings in a row around August 11. Sandra Richardson, Warsaw
On August 23, I saw about 25 Barn Swallows on hydro wires on the 4th Line of Douro-Dummer near Cottesloe. So few these days. On August 25, I was riding my bike in the same location and saw 5 or Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Aug 25, 2017 15:05 by Ben Taylor – Peterborough–Meadowvale Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Squat heron with black back and a light coloured plume feather standing on a log Read more…
Now’s the time to be looking for migrating Common Nighthawks. The best time to see flocks is late afternoon and evening. They feed as they fly and are often seen over water. In my experience, they often turn up after Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 27, 2017 14:28 by E. Straka – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) (1) – Reported Aug 27, 2017 14:28 by E. Straka Read more…
After a slow start this summer, the number of Giant Swallowtail sightings/reports appears to be increasing. “We have a resident Giant Swallowtail in our garden in Keene. It particularly likes the pink Phlox.” Susan Vance Read more…
Beavermead Park in Peterborough is one the city’s premier birding destinations, especially now as fall migration is underway. Bill Crins had 24 species in the park during an hour of birding on August 23 (see checklist below). These included two Read more…
I’ve been paddling down to watch the 2 young Bald Eagles since June. Up until yesterday I always found them high in white pines within sight of their nest. August 17th was the first day they ventured farther, to a Read more…
Monarch sightings in the Kawarthas have been far more numerous this summer than in the recent past. For example, Tim Dyson has had 353 sightings in the Warsaw/Stoney Lake area as of today. Like many people, I have at least Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 20, 2017 18:00 by Chris Risley – Peterborough – Rotary Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Seen flying north along the river by Chris Risley and then spotted again Read more…
Wendy Bowen of Buckhorn reports a bracket fungus growing on a fallen log beside her garage (August 20, 2017). I was finally able to identify it as a Cinnibar Polypore. Apparently, it is widespread in Ontario but not common. I’d Read more…
Why Climate Change Isn’t Our Biggest Environmental Problem, and Why Technology Won’t Save Us by Richard Heinberg Published by Post Carbon Institute – August 17, 2017 Reposted with permission from Ecowatch. Our core ecological problem is not climate change. It Read more…
I spotted a Great Egret in a pond on Fisher Drive in Peterborough on August 14. The pond is sort of tucked in behind the last factory on Fisher as you approach Brealey Drive. Also the Red-headed Woodpecker still makes Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 14, 2017 14:14 by Dan Chronowic – Lansdowne St. and The Parkway – Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Hunting Rock Pigeons above the Spaghetti Factory. Caught a Rock Read more…
This Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) was trying to set-up nests on my front walkway. It had 5 holes dug already. I was able to get a video of it. This is one pretty creature and aptly named too! Read more…
On August 5, 2017 at about noon, there was a Great Egret flying north up the Indian River just north of “The Back Dam” just upstream from Warsaw. As I paddled towards where it had suddenly spiraled downward behind some Read more…