Oct. 21 – Narrow-winged Tree Cricket – Rob Tonus found this very late tree cricket on the grass beside the Rotary-Greenway Trail, just south of Nichol’s Oval Park. Note the reddish cap. This species sings at only at night, producing a mellow trill of variable length (usually 2-10 seconds). It Read more…
11 October 2017 – Project FeederWatch celebrated its 30th anniversary last winter, thanks to dedicated participants who observe birds at their feeders. The information collected through this project over three decades allows scientists to measure important changes in North America’s winter bird populations over time. All are invited to join Read more…
October 10: I had my first two Dark-eyed Juncos today. Sue Paradisis, Peterborough October 9: Today there was a Peregrine at the Buckhorn Lock. I was travelling south when it flew over the bridge at handrail height and landed in a tree about ten feet away from the east (lower Read more…
Happy to report that between October 5th to 7th we were able to deliver twenty-three Snapping Turtle hatchlings to shallow muddy areas on our stretch of the Indian River. But the event was puzzling in a couple of ways. Back on July 1st we witnessed an adult Snapping Turtle in Read more…
Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) (1) – Reported Oct 05, 2017 16:55 by Scott Gibson – Fairbairn marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “continuing; hoping to get some pics today but much skulkier than on Monday; only catching few quick glimpses.” Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) (1) – Reported Read more…
I live in Northumberland County – Baltimore to be exact, 10 km north of Cobourg near the Balls Mills conservation area. We are surrounded by forest. Our own property is 3 acres of forest that backs on to Baltimore creek. Beyond that is a mix of forest, marsh and farm land. Read more…
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) (1) – Reported Sep 29, 2017 07:56 by Iain Rayner – Peterborough–Fairbairn Street wetland, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) (8) – Reported Sep 29, 2017 07:38 by Donald A. Sutherland – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist:
White-throated Sparrows have arrived at my feeders in Peterborough. Sue Paradisis
I was walking in Burnham Woods on the evening of September 1 and came across these strange creatures all over a young beech sapling. I could see them all rocking back and forth. Strangest sight. Sue Paradisis Note: After a bit of research, I discovered they are a kind of Read more…
Over the past ten years, we’ve seen a marked decline in the number of Red Squirrels and a steady increase in the number of Gray Squirrels on our property. This year that imbalance may change. For the first time that we are aware, we have had two broods of Red Read more…
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 instar larval stage of the Hermit Sphinx moth (lintneria eremitus). 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 Dorset. Any idea what they are? Erin McGauley Note: I’m 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 feeders – and not a small bird in sight! It 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 Benn
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 map and peak-viewing chart. Staff will be updating their park 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 of this bird, but based on size, shape, and colouration, 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. It was slightly smaller than the solitary with browner, lighter 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 size to adjacent RBGU with flock of CANG North of 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 Trent University at Lock 22. Songbird diversity and numbers were 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 walking up Tobin from a local pond just south of 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 so Barn Swallows in the same location. As I rode 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 in plain sight.” On August 28, I came across this 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 a rain event. Here are some recent sightings from Tim 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 – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: 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 “On August 26, we paddled 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 Red Crossbills, a bird seldom seen in Peterborough. Red Crossbill 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 heron nest about a mile from the eagle nest. (Herons Read more…