Sightings

I live southwest of the village of Millbrook on the 4th (Zion Line) at Elgar Drive. Just south and west of us on the north flank of the Oak Ridges Moraine are some large open fields that have not been in cultivation for many years and there are numerous bird Read more…

About 20 people braved very cool temperatures and strong winds Sunday morning to take part in the weekly Peterborough Field Naturalists’ Sunday Morning Bird Walk. Here are a few of the highlights: Stop 1: Centre Line of Smith (Cty Rd 24) @ 5th Line – Northern Waterthrush (3), Common Loon Read more…

During late March, I took daily photos of a White-tailed Deer that had been killed by Coyotes nearby on lower Chemong Lake. It was very interesting to see the daily changes in the carcass. If you look through the various photos you will observe several photos showing clumps of hair Read more…

On April 30 in my backyard at Chemong Road and Reid Street, there was a Fox Sparrow kicking up a storm as it fed. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the yard, as well. Marilyn Freeman

Feeding on the lawn yesterday were two Magnolia Warblers, both a male and a female.  They were probably eating midges. Bloodroot , Sanginaria canadenis, is in bloom. Bill Snowden, Ennismore

24 April – There was an Eastern Towhee lustily singing at Dafoe and the Rotary Trail this morning. Farther north, near the Trent U. footbridge, was a singing Brown Thrasher. Flying over the bridge itself were at least 2 Rough-winged Swallows 23 April in Meadowvale Park, near TASSS, one feebly Read more…

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) (1) – Reported Apr 23, 2014 07:30 by Luke Berg – Peterborough – John de Pencier Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Seen well with large flock of TRES on the canal. Dark band across upper breast with white throat clearly visible.” Palm Read more…

A few of our sightings over the long weekend …  American Bittern and American Kestrel on Centre Line of Smith Great horned owl at a nest – watched the male being chased by a flock of crows Red-tailed Hawk feasting at a kill site on Hwy 28 Turkey Vultures going Read more…

On my drive along Lakehurst Rd ( Buckhorn to Ennismore) yesterday, we spotted a Sandhill Crane at Jackson’s farm (where they sell sweet corn in the summer), an Eastern Bluebird that almost hit the windshield, and an Osprey hovering over the Gannon Narrows Bridge. There are also a pair of Read more…

I was in Lakefield on Tuesday and returned along River Road. Due to flooding there was a disturbingly large quantity of floating vegatation in the river. A Lakefield woman showed me a video she had shot on the weekend that show a “raft” that was around 35 feet wide by Read more…

We observed an interesting phenomenon on the weekend at our cottage on Baptiste Lake, near Bancroft. The lake was still frozen except for a portion in the middle that was open due to the current going down the York River. Groups of deer (5-10 at a time) arrived to the Read more…

Northern Waterthrush   – Reported Apr 22, 2014 07:22 by Donald Sutherland – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “calling, shrub thicket swamp opposite S entrance to Promise Rock Trail at Trent University”

 A Yellow bellied Sapsucker was drumming on the arbour yesterday afternoon and a host of Tree Swallows are on the wires on Harrington Line. Things seem to be moving faster now. Early trees are in bloom such as the poplars, willows and red and silver maples. Bill Snowden, Ennismore  

  On Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 10:30 AM, in flow at the north end of Little Jack’s Lake (between Jack’s Lake and Stoney Lake), my brother and sister-in-law saw a Bald Eagle perched above the open water. I have seen Bald Eagles at the spot numerous times during the Read more…

On my return from Easter there were approximately 15 Tree Swallows on the wires near the bird houses along Harrington Line in Ennismore. They are the first I’ve seen here this year. Bill Snowden

  We have our first native bees out. I think they are mining bees. I have scanned a picture of the bee from Heather Holm’s new book “Pollinators of Native Plants”. It is the bee in the middle shot of the top 3 pictures on the right. It is the Read more…

Cackling Goose  – Reported Apr 20, 2014 12:50 by Daniel Williams – Mather’s Corners Meltwater Pond, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Few scattered individuals mixed in with Canada Goose.” Trumpeter Swan – Reported Apr 20, 2014 13:35 by Warren Dunlop – Mather’s Corners Meltwater Pond, Peterborough, Ontario Read more…

                This afternoon between 2 and 4 pm my dad and I drove the 9th Line of Douro/Drummond Line. Highlights were 3 Virginia Rails on Drummond line about 200 m N of highway 7. The rails were in a scrubby swamp, mainly filled Read more…

I just counted 27 Common Loons on Little Lake. Sue Paradisis, Tudor Crescent, Peterborough

I met this handsome Horned Grebe for the first time ever today at Little Lake. Karin Laine, Peterborough

              This morning a Pine Warbler was in my backyard – they breed in the pines opposite our house, in the Lakefield College grounds. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was singing in the Lakefield Park. The marsh there is now ice free. Tony Bigg, Lakefield  

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  – Reported Apr 16, 2014 17:20 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Canal south of Parkhill, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “First of year…seen from 10-20 ft flying over Canal. Brown swallow, brown throat” Great Egret – Reported Apr 16, 2014 19:30 by Luke Read more…

Blue-headed Vireo  – Reported Apr 15, 2014 13:30 by Tim Haan – Welsh St, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist and photo