Sightings

Only a couple of White-throated Sparrows remain in our yard. However, junco numbers have increased to nearly a dozen. Location: Maple Cres, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

On my walk today along the rail-trail from Jackson Park to Ackison Road, I saw and heard a number of Golden-crowned Kinglets, Dark-eyed Juncos, and White-throated Sparrows. One Rusty Blackbird flew over, making its “squeaky clothesline” call. Later, I saw a large flock of American Robins at Wallis and Parkhill. Read more…

This morning I watched a Sora walking around and feeding on water lily pads in the Lakefield Marsh. Nothing too unusual in that

White-throated Sparrows are passing through our area in large numbers right now. We have a dozen or so in our backyard every day. I always make a point of spreading sunflower seeds on the grass at this time of year. Once you learn their high-pitched call note, you’ll start hearing Read more…

Today, we saw our first Snapping Turtle hatchling of the year. It may have been from a clutch that we saw deposited in our gravel driveway on June 19, though it was raided by (presumably) a raccoon. We protected what was left (which wasn’t much) with some wire netting over Read more…

We trapped a live Opossum in Peterborough this month at Milltown Mini Golf behind the Swiss Chalet on Lansdowne Street. We had the trap set to catch skunks and we cought the Opossum instead. I let it go where we trapped it because they don’t seem to be a threat Read more…

According to climatologist Dave Philllips of Environment Canada, the 19-day dry spell we have just had has been the driest September period on record for Peterborough. He also said that the past summer was only a degree cooler than normal and that rain was only 5% more than usual. Location: Read more…

Late afternoon in our yard at Sawmill Road a gaggle of five Ruffed Grouse (greys), presumably a fully grown young brood, casually and calmly ambling across the short grass for a few minutes before the one in the vanguard scuttled off into the sedge and longer grasses to be followed Read more…

The foxes have returned to the fairways of the Peterborough Golf and Country Club after an eight to ten week absence. They are resplendent in their developing Fall coats and look fit to take on the coming change of season. We watched one as it stalked some black squirrels that Read more…

There must have been considerable migration overnight because a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, four Purple Finch, four White-throated Sparrows, a Tennesee Warbler, and two Magnolia Warblers, turned up in our yard this morning. Location: Maple Cr, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Bird contact calls in the night sky were very noticeable this evening at about 10:00 p.m. There were obviously a lot of migrants passing overhead. Location: Maple Cr, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

At about 7:15 this morning I watched a black wolf canter up the street and into a field just south of my home on Ojibway Dr. N. in Burleigh Falls. I thought I may have been seeing things, but I watched it for a few minutes as it casually explored Read more…

Eacles imperialis (Imperial Moth) caterpillar crawling across the cement block patio at our home in Sawmill Road near Warsaw at about midday today. Temporarily posed it with an oak leaf to get some close-up photographs. Location: Sawmill Rd., Warsaw Observer: Stephenie & Peter Armstrong

Migrating warblers have been showing up in our backyard over the past week. This morning, an American Redstart and a Black-throated Green Warbler were present for several hours. Migrating hummingbirds are showing up daily as well. Location: Maple Cr, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Three Common Nighthawks flew over our house in Peterborough at 7:00 p.m. this evening, August 14th. They were heading southwest and presumably migrating. Location: Maple Cr, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Both a male and a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak have been visiting our feeder in recent days. However, they never come at the same time, making me wonder if the birds are indeed a pair. This is the first time we’ve had this species at our feeder during the summer months Read more…

Today, a Monarch Butterfly turned up in our backyard garden for the first time this year! Location: Maple Cr, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Brian Wales had a White-winged Dove in his garden today. He was able to photograph the bird. If you go to see it, give him a call first at 876-9375. Location: 412 London St. (just east of Park), Peterborough Observer: Brian Wales

On July 16, 2009 I found a young Merlin in our backyard, unable to fly. It was on the ground near a neighbour’s feeder and I watched him for 30 minutes and no parents came. I picked him up and realized that it was fully fledged and had an injured Read more…

Today, we observed and photographed both a female and male Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis). This large, yellow moth has pinkish-brown patches. It is a member of the silk moth family. The female, which is larger than the male, can have a wingspan of as much as seven inches! Location: Upper Read more…

A Green Heron was observed at Six Foot Bay Golf Course in Buckhorn. Location: Buckhorn Observer: Pat Edwards

I saw two juvenile Sandhill Cranes walking on the alvar just to the south and east of Irwin Inn (south side of Stoney Lake) at 7:30 a.m. today. They were the size of full grown Great Blue Herons, about 4

Almost every morning at between 7:00 and 8:00 AM our foursome watches a pair of Red Foxes as they make their morning rounds at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club here in Peterborough. They appear to be hunting for the squirrels and rabbits that are common on the grounds, and Read more…

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail appeared in our garden today, the first of the year. It spent its time on the Purple Coneflower and Joe-Pye Weed. This species flies later in the summer than the very similar Canadian Tiger Swallowtail. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I am sitting here, looking out our back window at 4 Red Foxes playing. Three days ago we had one, then two, but tonight there are four. I assume they are this years young but they are quite large. I live in town on Weller Street beside the hospital. In Read more…

The annual Petroglyph Butterfly Count, organized and compiled by Jerry Ball, took place on July 18. Cool, wet weather this spring and summer are the most probable explanations as to why both the number of species and the number of individual butterflies were much lower than usual. 49 species and Read more…

I found an Eastern Milk Snake curled up in my woodshed (attached to the house) underneath a garbage can. The shed seams to be a favorite spot for snakes. I am located 6 km east of Havelock on Highway 7. Location: Havelock Observer: Ulrike Kullik

I have only twice in my career had the opportunity to come across an endangered species while on my way into work. The first time was about 17 years ago while driving to the East Gate of Algonquin Park and driving up to a Peregrine Falcon standing on the roadway, Read more…

Today, at Jackson Park, my family and I saw a Red-Tailed Hawk. It was probably guarding its nest which we saw below the hawk. A blue jay was flying to the nest but failed to get there. After that, the jay attacked the hawk by grabbing at its neck and Read more…

A pair of Merlins have been present in the area of Dufferin and Ross streets for at least the last two months. There is a large nest high up a spruce on the northwest corner of the intersection. Today, my son was able to get a good look at one Read more…