Sightings
A beautiful Pileated Woodpecker drops by
This female Pileated Woodpecker was in our Peterborough yard on Mark Street twice on December 30. Her visit lasted 30 to 45 minutes each time. Hope you enjoy the photos! Helen and Larry Keller
Sightings
A visit from two Northern Flickers – a rare woodpecker in winter!
On Mark Street today, January 1, my husband and I saw two Northern Flickers land in our yard. A spectacular sight. Unfortunately they didn’t stay long enough for me to capture them in more than two photos. We hope they return – often! Helen and Larry Keller
Sightings
Interesting sightings from Lakefield
I just noticed an American Robin in my backyard! That is pretty strange. Also, yesterday, on a walk we saw what a friend identified as a Barred Owl. And also some couple apparently captured a Common Loon that was struggling with the ice on a nearby lake and released it Read more…
Sightings
Northern Saw-whet Owl west of Buckhorn
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (1) – Reported Dec 23, 2016 08:45 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Bear Creek Rd, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Responded to play back (toot series) with ‘ksew’ call. Approximately 100-200m away. Responded three times. First few times with a few Read more…
Sightings
An impressive trio of birds at Keene-area feeder
How’s this for a high triple at my feeder this morning: Eastern Towhee, Northern Flicker and American Kestrel ….. Followed by 3 Eastern Bluebirds while skiing on the rail trail! Michael Gillespie, Keene
Sightings
Snow Buntings in field at Selwyn and Buckhorn Roads
I have now seen twice what I think is a very large flock of Snow Buntings in a field just east of the four-way stop at Selwyn and Buckhorn Roads on the south side. both times, it was between 4:30 and 5 p.m. The second time was Dec 22 at Read more…
Sightings
Large numbers of crows in west end of Peterborough
I was wondering if you could tell me , why I am seeing so many crows around my house this time of year. There are as many as 20 to 50 of them, and they have been around for the past two weeks. I live on Armstrong Drive and have Read more…
Sightings
Recent raptor sightings: three owl species and a falcon!
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) (1) – Reported Dec 18, 2016 04:00 by Iain Rayner – PTBO – CBC Area 3 (Wedge from river to cty rd 4), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Responded to whinnying playback. In area near Water St N. Tim Hortons.” Great Horned Owl Read more…
Sightings
Sandhill Cranes at Miller Creek Conservation Area
Just wanted to let you know that I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes in the Miller Creek Conservation Area (7th Line of Selwyn) in August 2016. It was great to seem them up close, standing near a beaver lodge. Ian Bothwell Note: At least one pair of cranes has Read more…
Sightings
Lingering grebe and more bluebirds!
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) (1) – Reported Dec 18, 2016 08:10 by Linda Sunderland – Burnham Line PTBO, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33105049 – Comments: “continuing bird on Little Lake” Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) (5) – Reported Dec 19, 2016 15:00 by Dave Milsom – Rice Lake–Pengelly Landing, Read more…
Sightings
Eagles, ducks and a loon along Otonabee
Today was a really productive day on the River Road. We spotted a female Wood Duck around the buoy just north of Trent University. An adult and an immature Bald Eagle were on the ice at Lock 25. The adult was feeding on a fish. They flew off, the immature Read more…
Sightings
A pair of Eastern Bluebirds near Warsaw
I was very surprised to see a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in my garden this morning, December 18, at about 9.30 a.m. The male was sitting on top of the clothesline pole and the female was on the line itself. I live near Warsaw and often have bluebirds nesting in Read more…
Sightings
Red-bellied Woodpecker at Warsaw
On December 10, a male Red-bellied Woodpecker arrived on our property and has been here ever since. It is feasting on black oil sunflower seeds at a windowsill feeder. We can view the bird from only a couple of feet away! It’s the first time we’ve ever seen one. Neil Read more…
Sightings
A Winter Solstice visitor
After reading your column last week I was reminded of a very special visitor in my backyard on December 23, 2015. The bird spent the day in our locust tree. It was the first time that I have actually seen a Great Horned Owl. They are magnificent birds. Thought you Read more…
Sightings
Observations of Common Loons on Jack Lake: 1982-2016
Volunteers on Jack Lake have participated in the Canada Lakes Loon Survey (CLLS) since the program was initiated in the early 1980s. In recent years we have engaged additional volunteers so that the entire lake could be surveyed during the months of June, July and August. We recently made an effort Read more…
Sightings
Large numbers of eagles along County Road 6 and at Unimin Mine
I received an email from Gwen McMullen in Warsaw. Her son, Sandy, works at the Unimin Mine and lives on the Galesburg South Road. He drives to work along County Road #6 to the mine. On November 28, he emailed his mom, saying: “I was seeing groups of eagles all Read more…
Sightings
Video of Beaver felling a tree on Clear Lake
We live on Clear Lake and have had a number of tress chopped down by a Beaver this fall. I put out a camera to record the activity and this video shows the Beaver at work on Nov. 30. Enjoy! John McGregor, Clear Lake beaver-at-clear-lake-john-mcgregor-nov-30-2016
Sightings
Possible Tundra Swans on Otonabee River
We saw four swans on Tuesday morning (December 14), feeding together along the Otonabee River, south of Lakefield… beautiful!. At least one had a yellow spot near the eye and I wonder if they could be Tundra Swans. No tags were visible on any of the birds. We saw them Read more…
Sightings
Reminiscing about Gray Jays
I greatly enjoyed your article (Dec. 15) about the Gray Jay. I also had a very pleasant and memorable encounter with this intelligent and lovable bird. In 1971 we took our children and those of our neighbours in Ottawa on our annual hike to High Falls near Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Read more…
Sightings
Bumper apple crop attracts big variety of mammals
Despite the drought of 2016, the apple crop sure seemed to be bumper. Everyone I know who has them growing in their yards seems to agree. I wouldn’t know, but perhaps apple trees like a good dry spell every now and then. There are a dozen apple trees in the Read more…
Sightings
Interesting bird and squirrel activity
The Northern Flicker was back on December 6 trying to find space in the crab-apple tree with the 2 dozen American Robins that were there. On December 5, the Cooper’s Hawk returned, flushing out a dozen Mourning Doves from the spruce. Early Monday morning I was entertained by a young Read more…
Sightings
Mystery circles in ice on pond at Clear Lake
Upon waking up on December 5, there were eight white, fluffy circles in the ice on the pond adjacent to our house. At 10:00 am, I snapped the first two photos. Now it’s 2:30 pm and I am home to a melting scene but as you can see the circles Read more…
Sightings
Late Sandhill Cranes over Havelock
On December 10 at 3:20 pm, five Sandhill Cranes flew over my house on Highway 7 in Havelock. They were flying from south to north. Ulrike Kullik, Havelock
Sightings
Bohemian Waxwings have arrived!
On December 8, I observed a flock of approximately 100 Bohemian Waxwings feeding on berries in a tree at the corner of Ravenwood Drive and Parkhill Road. Along the Trans-Canada Trail near Lily Lake (between Jackson’s Park and Ackison Road) I also had approximately 50 American Robins. King Baker
Sightings
Sandhill Crane still present near Buckhorn
I just want to let you know that the Sandhill Crane reported by Gavin Hunter on November 28 was still present this morning (December 6). It is in a field kitty corner to the church at the junction of Buckhorn Road and Curve Lake Road. David Beaucage Johnson
Sightings
Evening Grosbeaks in Kirkfield
I would like to report Evening Grosbeak sightings at our bird feeder. We first saw just one about a week ago but today, December 3, there must have been at least 8-10 coming. They started coming at about 11:00 am and kept coming back about every half hour or so. Read more…
Sightings
Of Pine Grosbeaks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a particularly feisty Hairy Woodpecker!
On November 20, we had 8 Pine Grosbeaks at our feeder. They only stayed for an hour or so, however, and we haven’t seen them since. During this past summer, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, along with their young, came to the feeder regularly. Two families nested in the woodlot behind our house. Read more…
Sightings
Exciting local birding opportunities continue
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (1) – Reported Dec 03, 2016 09:01 by Peterborough County Birds Database – Pigeon Lake–Fothergill Isle Causeway, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32834457 – Comments: “Continuing bird; similar size to nearby White-winged Scoter; brownish body with paler brown head” Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) (1) – Read more…
Sightings
Barred Owl in Peterborough
We have a daily visitor in our yard at 18 Eldon Ct, just north of the Peterborough Golf and Country Club in Peterborough. This Barred Owl comes to visit usually once or twice a day. It is able to sit in the line of trees along Thompson Creek and spot Read more…
Sightings
Sightings of Note
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) – Reported Nov 30, 2016 13:00 by Bruce Kidd – Peterborough–Little Lake, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “between cemetery and Beavermead Beach” Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) (1) – Reported Dec 01, 2016 14:12 by Dan Chronowic – Peterborough – Little Lake – Read more…