Sightings
Great Egret near Kirkfield
I want to report a sighting of a Great Egret on May 10 southwest of Kirkfield. I believe the bird may be uncommon in this area. Sue Mcintosh
Sightings
Hundreds of swallows swarming over Bridgenorth causeway
I have lived in the area for many years….and each year has a different flavour. Last week I noticed a large number of swallows (in the hundreds) flying near the Ennismore/Bridgenorth causeway. Each day they have been there swooping over and under cars, flying at windshields. Many are colliding with Read more…
Sightings
Big hatch of mayflies on Indian River. Early date?
Yesterday, May 8th, about 4pm, we witnessed something we have never seen before. Hundreds of dead or dying mayflies were floating downstream carried by the brisk current or were gathering in the stillness of our little bay. The local fish population were taking full advantage of the sudden bounty. I Read more…
Sightings
More migrants returning!
Today, May 5, I had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on my feeder. An American bittern has been in the wetland near our house since at least since April 26. Also, I saw my first Yellow Warbler on May 3. I have my hummingbird feeders out, but nothing yet.
Sightings
Remnants of Winter and Pulses of Spring
Although it has been several weeks since hearing of any still around, Ed & Karen Heuvel reported to me a Great Gray Owl they had seen during the early evening on their property along the Ouse River between Cottesloe and Norwood on April 18, 2017. Ed says; “Huntng from a Read more…
Sightings
Recent sightings of note
We were at the Ecology Park on the morning of April 23 and saw this male Yellow-rumped Warbler. Hallelujah for the return of spring! Helen and Larry Keller, Mark Street We have had a little Chipping Sparrow flying up against our windows Read more…
Sightings
Great Blue Heron rookery near Campbellford
Returning from Campbellford on Saturday , April 29, I noticed that the nests in a heron rookery all contained birds settled down. This rookery is on County Rd 50 just south of Hwy 7 Carl Welbourn
Sightings
Early Whip-poor-will near Lakefield
On April 26, I was extremely surprised and excited to hear a Whip-poor-will calling from the field out behind our house (7th Line Smith & Peacock St. area in Selwyn Township …. near the Otonabee River). It was about 8:45 pm when I heard it, and it “sang” it’s classic Read more…
Sightings
Recent freeze-up and ice-out dates on Stoney Lake
The ice left Stoney Lake on April 12 this year, which is a little earlier than I had anticipated this year. I have included the dates of freeze-up and ice-out for the past few years. I know I have older records and will send them along. Freeze-up in 2015 was Read more…
Sightings
Recent sightings
On the afternoon of April 23, Sylvia and I went for a walk in the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary. When up on the drumlin, where the Tree Swallow boxes are, we met two young women birders who said they had just seen what they thought was a Northern Mockingbird. Almost on Read more…
Sightings
Great views of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spring is springing forth at a rapid pace now – hard to keep up! I was so excited to see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the brushy trees near our house this morning -just classic and unmistakable -white eye ring and white wing bars, and he even showed a bit of Read more…
Sightings
Beautiful shot of a pair of Wild Turkeys
A pair of bearded hen and tom Wild Turkeys photographed April 8 near Peterborough. Doug Gibson
Sightings
Ospreys and first loons are back!
Happy spring! Today, April 4, there were 2 Osprey on the nesting platform in Young’s Point. Most of Stony is still frozen but there were pair of absolutely resplendent Common Loons dancing and calling. Rob Welsh, Stoney Lake This morning, April 5, I heard my first Common Loon (Upper Buckhorn Read more…
Sightings
A rare visit from a Virginia Opossum
My wife, Mathilde, spotted a Virginia Opossum in our backyard on the evening of March 24 at around 9:30. We saw the white face and body by the light from our livingroom windows. It was eating a pomegranate that she had set out for some robins. Ralph Colley
Sightings
You never know what will happen when you call in owls!
On March 23 at about 5 pm, I used a hooting call to lure in this fabulous Barred Owl. To our surprise, a female also showed up. They quickly mated, and then hung around for a bit before going their separate ways. We were in the vicinity of Sandy Lake Read more…
Sightings
Some recent spring sightings
April 2 – I heard a Wilson’s Snipe quietly calling in the marshy area on the Parkway trail, east of Chemong, directly underneath the WalMart parking lot. Also, 3 Northern Leopard Frogs hopping along the new not-yet-opened road that skirts east of the airport as well as 3 Killdeer in Read more…
Sightings
Fairy shrimp in Harper Park vernal pool
I had the pleasure of wading around in a vernal pool at Harper Park in Peterborough this afternoon and found 100’s of fairy shrimp (Eubranchipus sp.). They are an indicator species for vernal pools. Wood Frogs breed in this same pool. The pool has lots of ice in it still, Read more…
Sightings
More Tundra Swan sightings
On March 20, there were 27 Tundra Swans on Lake Chemong across from my house which is located on Frankhill Rd. Paul Ruth, 668 Frank Hill Rd. Tundra Swan (Whistling) (Cygnus columbianus columbianus) (10) – Reported Mar 20, 2017 12:11 by Luke Berg – Keene–McGregor Bay Rd south of Hwy Read more…
Sightings
A good first day of spring
It was a good first day of spring for river sightings on our stretch of the Indian River. The pair of Canada Geese, first seen on February 26, came up onto the back area to check out the availability of grass. Conclusion – not much there! The geese tend to Read more…
Sightings
Don McLeod’s Nature Blog
Check out great photos of tracks from Don McLeod’s Nature Blog. Some are from a Peterborough Field Naturalist outing in early February of this year. Click here
Sightings
Merlin at Little Lake Cemetery
Today ( 10 March 2017) at noon I observed a Merlin in a cedar at the Little Lake Cemetery. Of course, I did not have my camera. He was quite content to sit and let me wander around the base of the tree to get a closer look. On Sunday, Read more…
Sightings
Turkey Vultures returning to the Kawarthas
Turkey Vulture (Northern) (Cathartes aura aura/septentrionalis) (1) – Reported Mar 08, 2017 14:56 by Matthew Tobey – Downtown Bus Terminal, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “flying northeast over the terminal” Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) (1) – Reported Mar 09, 2017 10:10 by Iain Rayner – Peterborough–Millennium Park, Read more…
Sightings
A rarely seen red phase Eastern Screech-owl in Selwyn Township
I saw first saw this fabulous red phase Eastern Screech-owl on the 9th Line of Selwyn at about 8:30 this morning, March 11. I was bringing home hay and went by it three times over the course of two and a half hours. It was still there and cute as Read more…
Sightings
Northern Saw-whet Owl and Peregrine in city
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Mar 07, 2017 08:30 by Chris Risley – 510 Gilmour Street, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Media: 1 Photo – Comments: “chickadees giving strange mobbing call and on inspection saw this saw-whet owl; raining” Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) Read more…
Sightings
Possible nesting pair of Bald Eagles southwest of Bobcaygeon
There may be a nesting pair of Bald Eagles between Bobcaygeon and Dunsford, Ontario. We have seen them on a nest to the north and east of the bridge over Emily Creek on County Road 36. We drive past this location almost 5 days a week, twice a day. Over Read more…
Sightings
Learn about Loggerhead Marsh in west end of Peterborough
Loggerhead Marsh is a Provincially Significant Wetland found on the west end of Peterborough. It is an important natural feature in our city due to its ecological and social value. The City of Peterborough has committed to protect the marsh but new development proposals now threaten its sensitive ecological state. Read more…
Sightings
More interesting sightings from Algonquin Blvd in Peterborough north end
On March 4, we saw a flock of 60 Red-winged Blackbirds in a tree near our home on Algonquin Blvd. On March 3, we awoke during the night to hear a Great Horned Owl calling. Mike and Sonja Barker
Sightings
Eagles seen attacking a Canada Goose
On the morning of March 3, my son witnessed two Bald Eagles attacking a Canada Goose in flight. The goose landed in the Crowe River and while landing, swatted the eagle off his side. The second eagle stayed above and did not attack the goose. My son grabbed the binoculars Read more…
Sightings
Red-winged Blackbirds and a Northern Flicker
On March 3, a Northern Flicker paid a visit along with 9 Red-winged Blackbirds. Poor dears were in for a shock weather wise! We live across from the Harold Towne Conservation Area, just south of the Old Norwood Road. Sandy Reid
Sightings
More waterfowl arriving in the Kawarthas
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) (1) – Reported Mar 05, 2017 14:14 by Brian Bailey – Peterborough–Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.2939092,-78.3085044&ll=44.2939092,-78.3085044 – Checklist: – Media: 4 Photos – Comments: “Blue phase with Canada Geese, initially on the lake. Later, feeding in the cemetery with Canada Geese.” Cackling Goose Read more…