January 31, 2013

Just as we arrived home from Peterborough this afternoon, my husband saw a Barred Owl swoop down onto a branch not far from our kitchen. After sitting there for a while, it flew a short way, closer to another bird feeder. It then flew down and then back up to Read more…

January 31, 2013

Today at around 3 p.m. Dave and I came across a gaggle of Wild Turkeys north of Sharpe Line just west of Winslow Road where the hydro line crosses Sharpe Line. I counted over 180 birds and there may have been more. It is the largest group of wild turkeys Read more…

January 30, 2013

Last evening (Jan 30th) a lone Spring Peeper called repeatedly (and bravely) from the wetland behind our house near Janetville (south of Lindsay). Location: Janetville, south of LIndsay Observer: Meryl McGrath

January 30, 2013

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

January 27, 2013

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…

January 25, 2013

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…

January 25, 2013

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…

January 23, 2013

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…

January 22, 2013

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…

January 19, 2013

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…

January 19, 2013

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…

January 18, 2013

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…

January 17, 2013

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…

January 15, 2013

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…

January 15, 2013

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

January 14, 2013

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…

January 13, 2013

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

January 12, 2013

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

January 12, 2013

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

January 12, 2013

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…

January 11, 2013

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…

January 07, 2013

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…

January 07, 2013

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…

January 06, 2013

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