Sightings

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

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…

While skiing at Kawartha Golf and Country Club yesterday, I witnessed a city wildlife drama. A hawk (cannot identify) landed on a squirrel nest high in a tree. I could then see a black squirrel flipping and flopping around in the nest. Then, the hawk emerged with the squirrel in Read more…

I had a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in my yard this afternoon. Location: Rogers St., Peterborough Observer: Ivan Bateman

I just had 12 Bohemian Waxwings feeding in the crab apple tree. I have also had 6 American Tree Sparrows for the last few days. Location: Tudor Cres. Peterborough Observer: Sue Paradisis

Having enjoyed a “four pecker” morning ( Pileated, Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied), I was relishing a record-species feeder day. Although this was not to be ( 13 species in total), we did enjoy the presence of seven Northern Cardinals at the feeder at one time. Over my longish career of Read more…

This afternoon, I had a flock of about 16 Pine Grosbeaks in the spruce trees in my yard. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I was too busy to let you know that I had a visit at the suet from a Northern Flicker on Dec. 24th. I also spotted a Cooper’s Hawk twice that day. Today when I went out my door, I noticed feathers blowing on the snow. When I looked over Read more…

Nature Sightings at Gannons Narrows…. Lately, it has been a beehive of activity around here. We have Otters year round – they love my neighbours old boathouse as do the Beavers that have their litters under the old dock boards. With the North Shore across from us now in the Read more…

A Bald Eagle was trying to take a fish from an Otter on the ice in front of my neighbour’s boat house. The Otter, however, was able to scamper down the hole in the ice with the fish. Location: Gannon’s Narrows on Buckhorn Lake Observer: Jim Watt

This week I spotted a (at least 1) Coyote on my pond in the mornings and afternoons. It was very fearless. There were also crows, raptors (I couldn’t identify), etc. A couple of days ago, I looked at the island on the pond and spotted a ribcage. It was the Read more…

A Barred Owl has been in our neighbourhood since at least early December and frequents a spruce tree in our backyard. We believe he is feasting on the local rabbit, squirrel and possibly stray cat population. Our backyard borders Olympus Park, specifically the forested area. We have found evidence of Read more…

At 6 a.m. this morning, when it was still quite dark, Emily and I saw a rainbow around the Moon! There was a kind of “ice fog” in the air, but obviously it was enough, combined with the light of the full moon, to create a full rainbow, all around Read more…

I saw a Coyote crossing the ice at Gannons Narrows about noon. He stopped by the green channel marker and headed back

Today I had the pleasure of watching a spectacular display of eagle behaviour. An adult Bald Eagle flew into a pine tree in front of our property at Gannon Narrows. It was not sitting comfortly in the tree and we could not see if it had anything in its talons. Read more…

Today we had the pleasure of watching two dozen Common Redpolls at our feeders. There was also a single White-throated Sparrow in a flock of a dozen juncos. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

A Barred Owl, likely attracted by small mammals, in turn attracted to the bird feeders maintained by the Peterborough Field Naturalists, was seen at noon today, Christmas Eve, near the ‘Bird Feeder Trail’. Little Lake is still more open than ice-covered, but there are increasing numbers of larger gulls and Read more…

We have a great variety of birds coming to our feeders including redpolls, chickdees, juncos, Blue Jays, doves, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, nuthatches and siskins. Location: Sharpe Line, 1 km west of the Ida corners near Cavan Observer: Pam and Paul Money

Luckily, I live on Creekwood Dr., backing on Harper Park in the southwest corner of Peterborough, and have witnessed/enjoyed first hand everything the urban oasis has to offer. I’ve explored much of the area in both winter and summer, although not so much in recent years. From my own back Read more…

Today, we had a leucistic American Goldfinch at our feeder. It was entirely pale yellow and looked very similar to a Canary, except for the slim, uncanary-like bill. Location: Cavan, Ontario Observer: Dave Stabler

Today, I spotted and photographed two Bald Eagles quite a piece off up the lake. I only saw them the one time and recognized them after seeing them in Alaska this past summer. Location: Fife’s Bay, Chemong Lake Observer: Nancy Cafik

The 27th Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 22, 2012. The temperature was around -5 degrees Celsius for most of the day but there were strong winds all day (including early in the morning) and periods of light snow at times. Most species were sparse this year Read more…

When I moved to Dummer in 1987, we had Evening Grosbeaks every year. Then, in about 1995, they stopped coming. Yesterday, for the first time since, we had a small flock. They did not stay long but hopefully a good sign for the future. Location: Douro-Dummer Township Observer: Bruce Kidd

We have just identified a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder. Location: Cameron Line Observer: Janet Johnstone Doug Latham

There is a Red-necked Grebe on Little Lake. It’s in first winter (formative) plumage, quite dark and round headed. Last seen between Beavermead Beach and the ‘cemetary point’, but not associating with the mergansers or goldeneye. It dives frequently and covers a lot of ground (underwater). Location: Beavermead Park, Little Read more…

My neighbour got a picture of a Virginia Opossum last night on his trail camera. I saw two this summer in our area as road kill. One was on the Yankee Line, almost at Emily Park. Location: Gannon’s Narrows, Ennismore Observer: Jim Watt

The 61st Peterborough Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday December 16th. On a dull wet day, 35 participants found a total of 58 species, the same total as last year and four below our record. Of particular note was one new species

Today I saw a Snowy Owl sitting on a dock on the east side of Katchewanooka Lake, just north of Lakefield. It took off as I approached the dock. Location: East side of Katchewanooka, on a property on Moodie Drive Observer: David Woolverton

We just had a pair of Bald Eagles fly by the west end of Fothergill Isle this morning. Location: Fothergill Isle on Pigeon Lake at Gannon’s Narrows Observer: Rose Rogers