Monarch sightings in the Kawarthas have been far more numerous this summer than in the recent past. For example, Tim Dyson has had 353 sightings in the Warsaw/Stoney Lake area as of today. Like many people, I have at least one in the garden almost every time I look out. Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 20, 2017 18:00 by Chris Risley – Peterborough – Rotary Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Seen flying north along the river by Chris Risley and then spotted again about 15 minutes later flying south along the river.”
Wendy Bowen of Buckhorn reports a bracket fungus growing on a fallen log beside her garage (August 20, 2017). I was finally able to identify it as a Cinnibar Polypore. Apparently, it is widespread in Ontario but not common. I’d never seen it before. One website describes it as “Tough, Read more…
I spotted a Great Egret in a pond on Fisher Drive in Peterborough on August 14. The pond is sort of tucked in behind the last factory on Fisher as you approach Brealey Drive. Also the Red-headed Woodpecker still makes regular stops at our feeder throughout the day. Marina Kosichek, Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 14, 2017 14:14 by Dan Chronowic – Lansdowne St. and The Parkway – Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Hunting Rock Pigeons above the Spaghetti Factory. Caught a Rock Pigeon and landed on the top of the truck garage Read more…
This Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) was trying to set-up nests on my front walkway. It had 5 holes dug already. I was able to get a video of it. This is one pretty creature and aptly named too! Rick Stankiewicz, Keene Note: The Great Golden Digger Wasp is Read more…
On August 5, 2017 at about noon, there was a Great Egret flying north up the Indian River just north of “The Back Dam” just upstream from Warsaw. As I paddled towards where it had suddenly spiraled downward behind some trees, I finally noticed it perched on someone’s dock. Shortly Read more…
On July 29, my grandson and I discovered a jelly-blob looking “creature” in Buckhorn Lake. It’s about the size of a small loaf bread (or a haggis !) and seems to have some seaweed attached to it (or even through it). Toni Sinclair, Buckhorn Lake Note: This is probably a Read more…
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (5) – Reported Jul 31, 2017 10:00 by Rick Lauzon – Bellmere Winds G.C., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “very easy to see both adults and juveniles all around the golf course, looking from the parking lot, and up and down the road Read more…
Today, July 22, at the Nonquon lagoons in Port Perry, there was an interesting mix of life and death struggles. Lots of sights of successful breeding as Mallards, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Trumpeter Swans showed off their new families. Very few shorebirds but the habitat is still not good Read more…
On Saturday, July 22, I saw a Great Crested Flycatcher, a bird we have never seen before. The sighting was brief, with no time for a photo, but the tricoloured front view of light grey, soft lemon yellow and orange was unmistakable. Another first this year is a family of Read more…
Update re: John Deyell’s sighting (July 14, 2017) of Trumpeter Swans nesting in Sandy Creek Bay near Woodland Camp Site. Apparently, this same pair had 2 cygnets last year, unbeknownst to most people (saw photos from October last year taken by camp owner). This year they have 1 cygnet. I’ve Read more…
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (1) – Reported Jul 20, 2017 14:50 by Ian Sturdee – 5997–5999 Highway 7, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen CA-ON (44.4328,-77.8960), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Flew over road while I was driving. Identified by shape, size and overall colouring including streaked underparts. Had a good look Read more…
This spring (2017) I had a unique opportunity to photograph a Snapping Turtle that was unaware of my presence and as a result I was able for the first time to capture one with its neck fully extended and travelling at “top speed” (for a turtle). For years in the Read more…
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) (1) – Reported Jul 19, 2017 09:26 by Bill Crins – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist:
I had a great day in the field on July 7. I was in the Lily Lake area and found a Green Heron NEST with three fuzzy herons, as well as eggshells. Later, I found what I think is a Porcupine den. I also collected a few sedges and a Read more…
This is a series of photos from Rick Stankiewicz of a Common Green Darner emerging from the nymphal case. Enjoy!
In the spring of 1940 the countryside around Invermay, Saskatchewan, had an historic Forest Tent Caterpillar infestation. I was 11 years old and have very clear memories of that time. By the end of May the leaves in all the trees, almost all white poplar (aspen), and all bushes had Read more…
For three years now, I have had these Trumpeter Swans across from our home in a bay near Woodland Camp Site on Buckhorn Lake. I know that they have been reported in previous years to your site. They have been here for at least the past 1 1/2 months. I Read more…
Our very “skittish” and shy Red-headed Woodpecker has returned. I saw it for the first time this years on July 9, but didn’t have a camera handy. However, on July 11, I was ready. This picture was taken looking through our window into our backyard. The feeder hangs from the Read more…
I live in Ennismore on 4 acres in a century home. The article you wrote about declining bat populations and White Nose Syndrome is old but I thought I’d reach out to you since I found it interesting and I’ve got bats – Little Brown Bats, I think. They’re living Read more…
We had a pleasant surprise on Canada Day. A Snapping Turtle laid her eggs in our graveled turning circle in full view of the house windows. We watched her for about 50 minutes starting about 9:30 am though we don’t know how long she had been labouring. Interestingly, once she Read more…
I captured these photos during an early morning kayak outing on Lower Buckhorn Lake on the weekend of June 24. The Eastern Kingbird kept tossing the dragonfly (a skimmer) into the air, seemingly to kill it. I was struck with the size of the dragonfly. Robin Williams Blake
I have been watching two dark brown juvenile Bald Eagles for three mornings now, sitting on and beside a high nest in a white pine in Wolf Island Provincial Park on Lower Buckhorn Lake. They glared at me for about 15 minutes but never left. One of them was in Read more…
Do you have a pollinator garden? Would you consider registering the garden in the Peterborough Pollinators 150+ Garden Challenge? Our goal is to register 150+ gardens in Peterborough and area. This is a celebration of both the importance of pollinators and of Canada’s 150th birthday. If you register before the Read more…
I was observing the Common Loon family (2 adults and 2 very new chicks) on the Otonabee River just south of Lakefield today, June 27. A pair of loons nested here last year as well. As I watched, a Bald Eagle swooped by and posted himself in a nearby tree. Read more…
We spotted the male Peregrine Falcon today, June 27, standing guard next to the nest on Anstruther Lake. The female was sitting on the nest. We’ll keep you posted with their progress! Marie Duchesneau
The Hairy Woodpecker with a yellow crown came back to my feeder on June 26 and even posed for me! I was confused by the yellow coloration on the crown, instead of a red patch on the back of the head. Barb Logan Note: I did some research on this Read more…
Regarding the Nessus Sphinx reported by Stephenie Armstrong, they are likely fairly common here in Peterborough County, though I rarely see them myself. They do, however, seem to be a day-flier, and can therefore be confused with a Hemaris species like the Snowberry Clearwing. A few weeks ago, at my Read more…
We had a female Northern Flicker at the condo in Auburn on Armour Road North on June 16 and 17 at around noon. Gord Young