Sightings

The high today hit a record 12.6 C in Peterborough, snapping the previous Jan. 30 record for Peterborough of 8.5 C set in 1988, according to Environment Canada. Location: Peterborough Observer: Environment Canada

Today at 2 p.m. I saw a Great Blue Heron flying over Millbrook. Location: Millbrook Observer: Ken Rumble

I found a large flock of Common Redpolls on Lynch’s Rock Road this afternoon that contained at least one Hoary Redpoll. At Petroglyphs PP I found a Barred Owl being mobbed by Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches. I also finally saw one of the Black-backed Woodpeckers that have been sighted Read more…

Today, at about 2:00 p.m. there were Pine Siskin 1, Common Redpoll 10 at my feeder. A flock of three Red Crossbills stopped briefly in the cedar trees outside my house and a flock of about 4 Pine Grosbeaks flew over. Also one of the female House Finches coming to 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 on a very large fish. What a majestic looking bird. 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

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. This one was bright enough that I could see the 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 Red-winged Blackbird is usually a sure sign of spring, but 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. Its feathers were all puffed up, since it was really 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 water, sliding across the ice. Recently I saw one by 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, finches, downy woodpeckers, etc. However, since the New Year, the Read more…

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 started munching on the fresh fish just caught. Now, I’m 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 a letter saying “now I’m ready to die – on 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 since mid-November, was very active in same back yard – 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. We

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 Monkman

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 fly over the highway before! Location: the 401 near Progress 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 to the feeders when the redpolls are away. Location: Adeline 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

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 on the suet. Location: Young’s Point / Selwyn area Observer: Read more…

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 found a freshly killed one near the coop so I 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 I had identified it as a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk and Read more…

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 at Little Lake. They were best viewed from Edgewater Blvd Read more…