Sightings

I was walking my dogs today at the Trent Nature Area and I saw a Northern Saw Whet Owl. Location: Trent University Observer: Luke Berg

This morning I witnessed a large flock of Common Mergansers on the water in front of my place feeding on minnows. Probably about 200 ducks. I live on the Harrington narrows between Chemong and Upper Buckhorn. The interesting thing was that there were quite a number of gulls actually attacking Read more…

We’re hearing lot of Coyotes at our farm this year; in fact, we hear them nightly. Actually the Coyotes were trying to entice a dog belonging to one of our neighbors to come and play a couple of months ago. One Coyote was full out in the open and my Read more…

I received a report that a pair of Bald Eagles were seen today on Fox Island, across from Curve Lake First Nation. Eagles have nested near here for the past few years. Location: Curve Lake First Nation Observer:

This morning I took my dog for a walk along one of the rail trail sections south of Peterborough. At one point my dog ahead of me started barking at the frozen ditch alongside. As I came up to him I could see where the ice was opened up and Read more…

I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the Peterborough Zoo. Location: Peterborough Zoo Observer: Ian Shanahan (via Chris Risley – posted on OntBirds)

Today, at 12:21 pm, I am watching a purple finch feed at my bird feeder. Location: Peterborough Observer: Luke Berg

A quick count of the ducks on the lagoons this afternoon showed about 280 Bufflehead, 40 Lesser Scaup, 20 Common Goldeneye, 8 Ring-necked Duck, and 10 Mallard. Fair numbers of Hooded Mergansers and Common Mergansers can also be seen on the river between Trent and Lakefield. I also saw a Read more…

This morning, at about 8:15 a.m., I saw about two dozen Wild Turkeys perched in the trees at the north end of the huge corn field at the northwest corner of Ackison and Parkhill roads. Location: Ackison Road Observer: Drew Monkman

Today, I saw an Eastern Phoebe land on the wire just outside our sunroom. It sat there for a mintute or two and then flew off. Location: Oriole Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Pierre Gilbert

Today on Boundry Rd in Ennismore, I saw 25 Rusty Blackbirds and my first American Tree Sparrow of the season. Location: Boundry Road, Ennismore Observer: Randy Smith

Tonight at 6:15 p.m., two Sandhill Cranes flew over my house at 406 Gifford Drive in Ennismore. Location: Gifford Drive, Ennismore Observer: Randy Smith

I saw an Eastern (Rufous-sided) Towhee this evening around 6 p.m. He was eating on the ground under my bird feeder, which is located near thicket like shrubs at the back of the property. It was feeding alongside Dark-eyed Juncos and Mourning Doves. This is the first time I’ve seen Read more…

Today, whilst leading a PFN morning walk we found a Ring-necked Duck just above Lock 23, and seven Least Scaups in the Lakefield Lagoons. Also of note we found two flocks of Rusty Blackbirds. This morning a female Common Merganser was resting on a rock just south of Lakefield. Location: Read more…

Today, my wife, Liliana, and I saw a single Peregrine Falcon at about 5:00 p.m. on George Street United Church. The bird was on the southwest side of the church tower. Location: corner of George and McDonnel streets Observer: Mitch Brownstein

Today, three White-crowned Sparrows (two adults and one immature) fed among the 20 or so White-throats. Several juncos were also present. Location: Maple Crescent Observer: Peterborough

Today, the first Dark-eyed Juncos of the fall arrived at our feeder. Location: Maple Crescent Observer: Peterborough

The two Peregrine Falcons reported in thePeterborough Examiner of September 25 were seen this evening. This time, they were perched on the top of George Street United Church. Apparently, they took off and flew out of sight almost immediately. The birds had previously been seen on Mark Street United Church. Read more…

Today, two female Purple Finches were at our feeder. Fall seems to be the only time I see these birds in the city. According to the winter finch forecast, this species is expected to be completely absent from Ontario this winter. I also saw two southward-bound Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the Read more…

Tonight, at dusk, I was standing in a field and a large group of birds appeared. They were diving for insects overtop of my flock of sheep. To my amazement they were Common Nighthawks. There were more than 20 of them. I was able to get a definite identification as Read more…

There was a lot of bird activity along the Trans-Canada Trail this morning between Jackson Park and Ackison Rd. At least 10 Gray Catbirds were calling from the shrubbery. There were also large numbers of White-throated Sparrows, along with lesser numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Dark-eyed Juncos. As often happens Read more…

It was a successful year on Buckhorn Lake for the Bald Eagles. It looks like two eaglets were fledged this year. I last saw the adult female around Aug 15 and the adult male around Aug 22. They seemed to hang around later than last year. I saw one eaglet Read more…

A Bedstraw hawkmoth, Hyles gallii, visited my garden today where it gathered nectar from sedum. The appearance and behaviour of this species almost suggests a hummingbird. It was caught briefly and photographed. Location: South Monaghan, 2nd Line at Otonabee River Observer: Joe Kenney

This morning I watched a Peregrine Falcon flying low and to the south over the Quaker Park Tennis Club by the Hunter Street Bridge. Location: Peterborough Observer: Tony Bigg

Despite two hours of looking in my “usual” spots near Peterborough, I was unable to find any Monarch caterpillars for my classroom. This seems strange, given that the adults have been fairly common this summer. I eventually found a few near the shore of Lake Ontario near Port Hope. Location: Read more…

This morning I watched a large, female Cooper’s Hawk catch and simply stand upon a Mourning Dove in our neighbour’s driveway. What was strange, however, was that another dove, possibly the victim’s mate, landed on the driveway beside the hawk and walked past it, almost as if checking out what Read more…

On my way into work at 6 a.m. this morning, I spotted an albino American Crow. I was driving south down Highway 7out of Peterborough between Parkhill Rd and Lansdowne St.. It was not quite as big as the other crows and a little leaner, as well, but totally pale. Read more…

I’ve been able to take pictures of an albino Common Grackle. The bird and its familty were around for a couple of days earlier this month. Location: Matchett Line north, Otonabee Township Observer: Harv Bell

While driving south on Hwy 115 at the intersection of Hwy 35, my wife and I saw a pure white American Crow. Presumably this is an albino crow. There was no mistake that it was a crow, but its legs and beak were pure white. Location: Highway 115 at the Read more…

Jerry Ball, a local butterfly expert and enthusiast, reports having observed 48 record-early species of butterflies so far this year. On average butterflies are emerging about 12 days ahead of schedule. He notes that European Skipper, a species that is usually at its most abundant right now, is already pretty Read more…