Sightings

This morning, my son Shan and I saw a Milbert’s Tortoiseshell at the Lakefield Sewage Ponds. There were also 20 Ring-billed Gulls. Location: Lakefield Observer: Colin Jones

Today, my kids and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed up to Petroglyphs Provincial Park and had the following of note: Killdeer – one flying overhead; calling Brown Creeper – at least 6 in song along the main road; Red Crossbill – one calling in flight; Compton Read more…

This morning, a Song Sparrow was singing near the viewing tower at the Lakefield Marsh. Also, about 25 Red-winged Blackbirds were scattered throughout the marsh singing. The same number were also present on Friday (up from the 2 seen on Thursday). Location: Lakefield Observer: Colin Jones

Today I saw about a dozen Common Grackles in several small flocks. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

At 9:00 am this morning I saw two male Red-winged Blackbirds taking up their posts on the cattails in the Lakefield Marsh. A pair of Merlin was flying around the campsite with the male calling. A Killdeer flew overhead, also vocal. Four male and one female Hooded Mergansers, and a Read more…

We had a Common Grackle at our feeder in southeast Peterborough this morning. (Note: Colin Jones also reported a grackle today from Lakefield. Temperatures today reached 14 C.) Location: Peterborough Observer: Vic Henderson

Today, I was in the upper parking lot of St. John’s Anglican Church on Brock St and noticed that a picnic table below a tree was covered with wood chips and up the tree was a Pileated Woodpecker. He had removed the bark for about 12 inches up the limb Read more…

A lone, adult Ring-billed Gull was flying above Edmison Heights School this afternoon. It is the first I’ve seen this “pre-spring.” Location: Marina Blvd, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I heard my first Mourning Dove of the year calling this morning. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Today, I saw a lone Sandhill Crane land right near the junction of the Old Keene Rd. (Cty Rd.#8) and County Road #2. It never made a sound, but it was neat to watch it glide in for a landing. Location: Keene Observer: Rick Stankiewicz

Birding conditions are excellent at Presqu’ile Provincial Park these days, with open water in much of Presqu’ile Bay as far inland as the calf pasture. There are several vantage points along Bayshore Road from which concentrations of waterfowl may be observed with minimal disturbance to the birds. Judging from the Read more…

Since Christmas I have had almost daily visits of a male Pileated Woodpecker to the suet in my yard. I live in a country setting with bush on either side. Location: Woodville Observer: Ann Boyd

Today, on Nassau Road in Peterborough, there were 100 Bohemian Waxwings. The Merlins are back at my house (near Inverlea Park), too. Location: Peterborough Observer: Luke Berg

Wow! I sighted a Bald Eagle today in the Young’s Point area. It was in a grove of trees on the north side of Young’s Point Road, just before Preston Road. The trees are on a hill and beside a farm with a brick bungalow. I was fortunate to have Read more…

Today, at around noon, I saw two Red-tailed Hawks out my back window sitting in a White Pine. Location: University Heights Blvd Observer: Myranda Hawthorne

This morning, I spotted two River Otters out on Buckhorn Lake. Looks like they may have been fishing near an unfrozen section of the causeway near Buckhorn village when a Common Raven arrived. One of the otters spent a few minutes shooing the raven away, who seemed very interested in Read more…

Just an update on birds at my feeders. The Cooper’s Hawk continues to harass my regulars, particularly the Mourning Doves. I have seen him chase them but have not seen him catch anything. I have American Robins from time to time and the Fox Sparrow continues to visit. Location: 1338 Read more…

Using a trail video camera, Janet Flint was able to record a pack of three Coyotes making a nocturnal visit to her cottage property on Chemong Lake. She could hear them at times but never really thought that they would be on the property. She also has a Black-capped Chickadee Read more…

Pre-nesting activity has begun at the House Sparrow nesting box in our backyard. We observed the female sparrow this morning “cleaning house.” She was taking “beakfulls” of old nesting material from the nest, and then flying up to a nearby branch where she would drop the bits of grass and Read more…

This evening, I saw a Red Fox crossing Nassau Mills Rd. while I was coming home from the Trent pool. I spotted it at 8:33p.m. Location: Nassau Mills Road, Trent University Observer: Myranda Hawthorne

Early this morning I was walking on McNamara Road south of the city when I encountered a large flock of Snow Buntings. They wheeled and soared over the field putting on quite a show. When they landed on the snow-covered ground they seemed to disappear all together. They would then Read more…

Four Wild Turkeys emerged from our neighbour’s backyard and slowly made their way along the frozen shore before venturing out across the open ice, first to a tiny island some 300 metres away, and from there on to the other side of the lake. A bizarre sight! Location: Buckhorn Lake, Read more…

Today at noon, I heard my first Northern Cardinal in song for 2010. I also heard a report of a bird that was singing on Feb. 9th in the city. Location: Maple Crescent Observer: Drew Monkman

At about 1:00 p.m., I was able to watch a Barred Owl in Burnham

Today, my wife and I saw a Northern Hawk Owl behind house no. 232 in Bailieboro on County Road 28. Later in the afternoon, it was perched on a telephone wire just north of the village. Location: Bailieboro, ON Observer: Drew Monkman

I saw an adult Bald Eagle circling over the river just below the Hunter Street Bridge this morning around 10:00 a.m. Location: downtown Peterborough Observer: Sue Paradisis

A single Bald Eagle has been observed the last 2 days flying around upper Buckhorn Lake close to the village. Location: Buckhorn, Ontario Observer: Derry Fairweather

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker has been at our feeder all winter. The bird only used to pass through in the spring and fall, but this winter he has stayed. Location: Westview Drive, “The Glen” Pigeon Lake south Observer: Blair Hamilton

A pair of Bald Eagles has been turning up regularly on the Otonabee River below Lock 19 in the vicinity of Cameron and Park streets. They are regularly seen hunting ducks (mallards) which are quite abundant in this sector of the river. The eagles swoop down on the ducks which Read more…