This weekend saw the first sightings of Snow Buntings this fall. An Arctic-nesting species, the birds no doubt took advantage of the winds blowing from the north to facilitate their flight southward. Snow Buntings are common in the Kawartha all winter and often gather in flocks of several hundred Read more…
*** Species Summary: – Canvasback – Redhead – Northern Shrike Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) (1) – Reported Oct 25, 2013 08:45 by Jason Straka – Lakefield–Sewage Lagoons, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.4180879,-78.2587266&ll=44.4180879,-78.2587266 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15488072 – Comments: “Male. Brown head and gray back. Large duck with large, heavy, black bill. Diving. Read more…
With today’s cool temperatures and powdering of snow, the birds were once again flocking to my backyard this morning. Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows were feeding on the niger seed and finch mix I scattered in small piles on the ground, while Northern Cardinals, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Black-capped Chickadees were Read more…
At least 20 Dark-eyed Juncos appeared in the yard this morning, probably having taken advantage of the north winds to move southward with the cold front that has arrived. They are eating the niger seed I’ve scattered in small piles on the ground. A Hermit Thrush was with them as Read more…
Species Summary: – Brant – Surf Scoter – Red-breasted Merganser – Red-throated Loon – Lesser Yellowlegs – Eastern Screech-Owl – Horned Lark – American Pipit – Lapland Longspur ——————————————— View this alert on the web at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN34560 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated Brant (Branta bernicla) (50) CONFIRMED – Read more…
On Sunday, October 20th, I led a group of 10 birders on a short outing to see what species we could find along the Parkway Corridor, the Otonabee River and at the Lakefield Sewage Lagoons. The bird activity at the Cumberland Drive end of the Parkway was quite impressive with Read more…
Our situation is CRITICAL! The final Environmental Assessment, with recommendations for a four lane bridge through the heart of Jackson Park intact, is going to City Council committee of the whole on November 13. This will be followed a week later by a special City Council Meeting, for APPROVAL of Read more…
This afternoon, I walked the Trans-Canada Trail between the Wallis Drive access point and Lily Lake. Many of the trees and shrubs have already shed their leaves, probably as a result of the heavy rains of late. flowers in bloom: small numbers of Evening Primrose, Yarrow, Red Clover, Black-eyed Susans Read more…
Snow Goose ——————————————— View this alert on the web at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN36363 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) (3) CONFIRMED – Reported Oct 17, 2013 08:30 by Scott Gibson – Peterborough – West edge of County at Boundary Road, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.4041047,-78.4760771&ll=44.4041047,-78.4760771 – Checklist: Read more…
Orange-crowned Warbler ——————————————— The report below shows observations of rare birds in Peterborough. View this alert on the web at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN36363 Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Oct 17, 2013 06:55 by Jeff Stewart – 621 Carveth Drive, Millbrook, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.1354565,-78.4611087&ll=44.1354565,-78.4611087 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15429670 – Read more…
In case you have not seen notice of this in other media, the Elk has been back for several days. It is in the first field south of the junction of Hwy 28 and Centre Rd of Douro, on the west side. Tony Bigg
Today, at 1pm, I saw a Trumpeter Swan with yellow wing tag J81 out on the lake swimming with and being very friendly with a lone goose. I live on Washburn Island on Lake Scugog. Helen Anderson
I have attached a photo of this tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet as it recovered from a window head bump. It occurred this morning at 11:30 on our back deck near Bridgenorth. Very happy to report that it flew away shortly after. Is this a very common bird here? I have Read more…
We have a mystery sound coming from our front maple tree, every night once the sun goes down. It continues all night until sunrise. It’s so loud, neighbors on both sides have come over to ask if I am using some high-tech device to ward off the neighborhood cats from Read more…
A Varied Thrush has been around for a couple of hours today. He has been under the feeder and in the backyard on the birch and mountain ashes. I’ve tried to get a picture but he’s pretty nervous. He’s really lovely. Anne Corke, Cathcart Crescent
– Least Flycatcher – Warbling Vireo (Eastern) – Yellow-headed Blackbird Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (1) – Reported Sep 14, 2013 08:00 by Luke Berg – Trent Nature Area on the 9th Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3501535,-78.2703781&ll=44.3501535,-78.2703781 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15169371 – Comments: “small flycatcher with olive back and white wing Read more…
On September 12, an uncommon Four-toed Salamander was found near the large erratic on the “range” section of our property (east of Birchview Road) at Camp Kawartha. It was found by students from Lakefield College School and identified by Jake Fell. Jacob Rodenburg, Executive Director, Camp Kawartha
Today’s cool 13 C temperatures seem to have really stirred up bird migration and feeder activity. This morning I had two dozen Common Grackles at my feeder. This afternoon, while walking the Trans-Canada Trail near Lily Lake, there were at least a dozen migrant warblers in the cedars that responded Read more…
– Peregrine Falcon – Magnolia Warbler – Bay-breasted Warbler Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Sep 11, 2013 08:15 by Greg Samson-Strecker – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.362531,-78.2885554&ll=44.362531,-78.2885554 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15166063 – Comments: “Flew SSW from Rotary Rail Trail @ ~8:30am” Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) Read more…
Yesterday, I was provided with an intriguing glimpse into the lives of ants. So-called “flying ants” were milling about on our front steps and flying overhead in the backyard. Ants only have wings during the mating phase of their life cycle. Mating takes place over the course of just one Read more…
We were out in our backyard yesterday watching the three Sandhill Cranes when we heard another crane calling from just beyond. It definitely didn’t come from any of the three in front of us. Their beaks were closed and they were all looking towards the source of the calls. This Read more…
Origin of fish species found in Jack Lake, Peterborough County (south of Apsley) Native Species Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) Brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) Common white sucker (Catastomus commersoni) Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) Lake herring (Coregonus artedii) Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Muskellunge (Esox Read more…
Yesterday afternoon, a Giant Swallowtail visited our backyard garden. This was the first time I’ve seen the species actually nectaring in the garden. I’ve had them land on one of our maple trees before. The butterfly fed by hovering at the flowers (especially the Buddleia and phlox) but proved very Read more…
*** Species Summary: – Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1 report) – Least Flycatcher (2 reports) – Great Crested Flycatcher (2 reports) – Orange-crowned Warbler (1 report) – Bobolink (4 reports) ——————————————— The report below shows observations of rare birds in Peterborough. View this alert on the web at http://ebird.org/ebird/alert/summary?sid=SN36363 NOTE: all sightings Read more…
Just thought that you would like to know that the three Sandhill Cranes are still here, adjacent to the Miller Creek Conservation Area on the 7th Line of Selwyn Township. In previous years they were gone by the end of July. Having the cranes here this late has given us Read more…
Walking the rail-trail in the Lily Lake area the other day, I couldn’t help notice how quickly the asters are taking over as the dominant wildflowers on the landscape. Already, some of the goldenrods – which still provide most of the colour – are beginning to fade. I was Read more…
I live on a farm in Omemee, near Emily Park. Growing up in this area, I have observed a lot of nature. However, in just the last few weeks I seem to have seen more variety that I have ever noticed. My sightings include a Hummingbird Clearwing moth, a giant Read more…
Yesterday, I set up a new birdbath in my backyard. Instead of using the pedestal, I placed the bowl directly on the ground, partly beneath some cedars. I then installed a 1/4″ diameter plastic tube above the bath, hooking the tube up to my garden hose (using some parts I Read more…
Semipalmated Plover – Lesser Yellowlegs – Least Sandpiper – Baird’s Sandpiper – Pectoral Sandpiper – Philadelphia Vireo – Tennessee Warbler – Cape May Warbler – Magnolia Warbler – Bay-breasted Warbler – Lincoln’s Sparrow ____________________________________________________ Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) (2) – Reported Sep 02, 2013 14:10 by Chris Risley – Moncrief Read more…
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of talking with Don Davis who does a Monarch butterfly tagging demonstration each Labour Day Weekend at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. With a lot of hard work, he was able to find enough of these insects in order to show the public how the Read more…