January 25, 2013
I was just outside getting some wood and noticed a fairly large bird across the lake near the open water on Upper Buckhorn Lake. I went inside and got the binoculars and sure enough it was a Bald Eagle feasting Read more
I was just outside getting some wood and noticed a fairly large bird across the lake near the open water on Upper Buckhorn Lake. I went inside and got the binoculars and sure enough it was a Bald Eagle feasting Read more
I picked up the carcass of an unfortunate Eastern Screech-Owl in Ecology Park today. It was likely killed by a larger owl. Location: Ecology Park, Peterborough Observer: Sean Smith
Replicating all of the natural world’s benefits would cost billions in the Kawarthas area alone Click to view column
Around midnight tonight, checked outside in my backyard near Keene just before turning in for the day and upon looking up at the Moon, what did I see but a beautiful and complete Lunar Halo or ring around the Moon. Read more
I live in Ennismore and 2 weeks ago for 3 straight days (JAN 21, 22, 23) I witnessed just one Red-winged Blackbird hanging out in my backyard around my bird feeders. I was rather astonished as the arrival of the Read more
I had never seen a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder before today. He feasted on the suet for about 10 minutes. Location: 43 Crestwood Avenue, Peterborough Observer: Penny Lewis
I saw a beautiful bird on my dogwood tree. First thing I saw was a bright yellow patch on it above the tail feathers, and another smaller patch on the side of the breast. It was sideways on to me. Read more
We’ve been enjoying a family of Otters that we see from time to time. This year there were five of them who came by fairly often. We’ve seen them swimming, catching fish, diving off the ice into open patches of Read more
I was walking last Saturday (Jan. 12) and took a picture of a Barred Owl, perched in a cedar. I was in the Bridlewood Park / Harper Park area in Peterborough off of Spillsbury Drive. Location: Bridlewood and Harper parks Read more
I live in the west end on Kawartha Heights Blvd. Behind our backyard is Kawartha Heights Park.We have our feeders out all the time.We`ve had an abundance of birds this fall: white & red breasted nuthatches, blue jays, cardinals, chickadees, Read more
Late ice-up kept population high, and diverse, for annual bird count Click here to read column
My friend, Sandy Brack and i watched Otters (rather large) diving into the small streams that are forming through the ice at Gannons Narrows today. When they got out, they shook their heads to get rid of the water, then Read more
On Christmas morning, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker on Manning Ave. We have a little family joke going on about these birds. Before my mother died she had arranged her funeral, and got everything else organized and then sent me Read more
Today, I saw roughly 20-25 Common Redpolls and 5 Northern Cardinals 3 males 2 females 3-5 Blue Jays and of course the chicadees come to my feeders today. Location: Bridgenorth Observer: Jeff Keller
Today, after two days of near 10 C temps. there was a Wooly Bear Caterpillar, Pyrrharctia isabella, commuting in my back yard. (The band indicated there would be a mid-January thaw 🙂 That same day an Eastern Chipmunk, not seen Read more
While out enjoying the mild temps we heard the shrill call of a Belted Kingfisher and then saw him/her flying up and down the wide creek at the edge of our backyard, as they do daily in the summer months. Read more
Today, a female Northern Cardinal repeatedly attacked her reflection in the window of my truck. She perched on the passenger side mirror then kept flying at her reflection in the mirror. This is something we
Today, I saw a 2nd year Bald Eagle at the Bensfort Road landfill at about 1 p.m. It was perched in a tree to the west of the dumpsters where residents drop off garbage. Location: Bensfort Road landfill Observer: Drew Read more
On our way to our cottage on Lower Buckhorn Lake on Thursday, just before dark, we were driving on the 401 near Progress Road around Scarborough and a Great Blue Heron flew over the 401. We have never seen one Read more
Common Redpolls have taken over our feeder. We have never had them before and now there is a virtual swarm of them numbering over a hundred most days. The other birds are virtualy crowded out, except if they can get Read more
We had about about 15 American Robins here this morning feeding on the ground under our Austrian Pines. Location: Tindle Bay Road, near Chemong Lake Observer: Dorothy Mulders- Langlois
Today, I had a female Red-bellied Woodpecker dining at the feeder. Location: Bailieboro, near Rice Lake Observer: Marie Adamcryck
A 20-year first was just one of the sightings that delighted Drew’s readers in 2012 Click to view column
Bill Astell passed along several interesting raptor anecdotes today. “Cooper’s Hawks are common in my backyard. I have about 30 acres just north of the zoo and it is well populated with wildlife. I have chickens and one year I Read more
We have had a Northern Flicker coming to our feeder for weeks. It comes to the peanut feeder and also tries to eat sunflower seeds from the wooden feeders, but seems to scatter more than eat. I haven’t seen it Read more
A locally rare Northern Mockingbird was seen feeding on wild grape today on Edgewater Blvd across from the Holiday Inn. Location: Edgewater Blvd on Little Lake Observer: Linda Sunderland
Several Pine Grosbeaks were singing their gentle, whistled song this morning along Maple Crescent. One bird came in quite close in response to my playing a recording of the song. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman
This morning I heard a thump on the window and rushed out to find a hawk barely conscious in the snow. I picked it up and put it in a box to see if it would survive. By this afternoon Read more
Readers share their tales and photos from a year of getting very close to nature Click to view column
At about 1:30 today (Wednesday), there were three adult Glaucous Gulls and one 1st or 2nd year Glaucous, as well as a single adult Lesser Black-backed Gull along with lots of Herring Gulls on the ice across from the cemetary Read more