Sightings

I have been observing 40-60 Tree Swallows over the Otonabee River at Trent University all week long. Location: Trent University on the Otonabee River Observer: Everett Hanna

Despite near-freezing temperatures and a backyard still full of snow, about six midges were doing their up and down “yo-yo” mating flight in our backyard late this afternoon. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Deer carcass about 150 yards East and North of April 2 sighting, close to shore, with mature Bald Eagle. Location: Stoney Lake Observer: Fred Sneath

An Osprey was flying over the nesting platform by the dam slipway in downtown Lakefield at 2:00 p.m. today. Note that no Ospreys have yet been reported by the Hawk Watch at the Beamer CA in Grimsby (which monitors hawk migration on a daily basis.) Location: Lakefield Observer: Tony Bigg

On Nicholson Rd and Lakeview we had a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, a male Northern Harrier, 4 Killdeer and 100’s of robins. Location: SE of County Rd 2 Observer: Jerry Ball and Anne Anthony

We saw a flock of crows on a deer carcass about 250 yards off North shore of Stoney, midway between Viamede and Anchorage. The birds moved off a short distance with the arrival of a wolf. Checking a few minutes later,the wolf was gone and the crows were back. Location: Read more…

From the end of South Beach Road at Youngs Point (Clear Lake – 44.4863

” Last weekend, a flock of Bohemian Waxwings landed in a flowering crab tree we have in our yard and enjoyed the leftover apples. It was quite a sight. There had to have been about 20.” Location: Peterborough Observer: Glenis Burnie

“I watched an Eastern Phoebe this morning, sitting in a bush flicking its tail, on Maniece Ave by the Liftlock Golf Club.” Location: Maniece Ave. Observer: Tony Bigg

I had a Cackling Goose at Mather’s Corners today amongst the 100+ Canada’s, 4 Black Ducks and 7 Mallards. Location: Mather’s Corners on County Road 2, west of Keene Observer: Anne Anthony

Yesterday morning, while walking my dog between Beavermead and Rogers Cove, I counted 12 Great Blue Herons along the shoreline. I’ve only ever spotted a single heron or pairs before, never such a large group in one place Most interesting was that they appeared to be ‘attacking’ smaller water birds. Read more…

I observed several robins, today, eating Staghorn Sumac berries. This is considered a sort of last resort survival food, given their rather scant nutritive value. However, with snow still covering 80% of the ground, there is little other food. Today saw the first double digit mild conditions in over a Read more…

“I photographed an early caterpillar taking a walk on the snow in the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday. I

At least eight Turkey Vultures are presently roosting in a row of Norway Spruce on Edgewood Road in the west end of Peterborough. The birds have been there for several days and roost here for a week or so every year during spring migration. Location: Edgewood Road Observer: Vickie Martin

“I saw five Bald Eagles this morning. All five were close together..but two in particular were “dancing”-partial rolls,dips,climbing short stoops. No talon holds. It seems a little late for them to still be here, but there are still wolves killing deer. There have been two kills in the Boschink area Read more…

“A male cardinal is coming regularly, sitting on our BBQ and then flying into our patio door. It does this for a good half hour back and forth. Even though it is a little annoying to listen to, we don’t want to scare it away.” (The bird is seeing its Read more…

Duck numbers at Little Lake were particularly high this afternoon. After a quick count, I would guess there were at least 150 each of Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks, 100 Common Mergansers, maybe 50 Common Goldeneye, and about 30 Bufflehead. I didn’t have time to check all of the ducks Read more…

I found a freshly killed (still warm) Eastern Screech Owl on Division Rd. about 500m east of Hwy 28 at 7:10 this morning. There was still no sign of the Great Gray Owl near Old Norwood Rd and Burnham Line. A River Otter was on the ice by Lock 23 Read more…

This morning, I saw a Killdeer on one of the new subdivision roads NW of Wildlark Dr. in the west end of Peterborough. It flew off towards Loggerhead Marsh which is now frozen but must have a few patches of open water. Where else does it find food? There certainly Read more…

Kestrel and Northern Harrier Location: Moncrief Line (Airport Road) near Highway 28 south of Peterborough Observer: Ken Rumble

Two American Woodcocks were calling and flying around the junction of Burnham line on Old Norwood Rd. at dusk. Location: Burnham Line east of Peterborough Observer: Tony Bigg

“We have heard and seen a Merlin in Inverlea Park this spring. They are once again nesting in pine trees. Their call is disturbing us. This is the third year they have come to raise families.” Location: Inverlea Park, Peterborough Observer: Russell Macgillivray

There were a couple of Eastern Meadowlarks standing in the snow today on Bartlett Rd. which is off Highway 28. They were near 28. There was also 2 Kestrels in the vicinity. Location: Bartlett Road Observer: Ben Walters

About 15 cm of heavy snow fell this afternoon and this evening. No major March thaw has occurred as of yet. Skiing conditions are still superb at Kawartha Nordic X-C ski trails at Haultain. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

At Lakefield Marsh, this morning, I saw a Great Blue Heron fly over. Red-winged Blackbirds were spread out all around the marsh giving their territorial calls. A few Common Grackles were also around, and one Northern Shrike sat near the viewing tower. In the river by the campsite there were Read more…

For at least the past five days, a Great Gray Owl has been present (and photographed) along Burnham Line near Old Norwood Road. To my knowledge, this is the first Great Gray seen in the Kawarthas this winter/spring and may mean there are others around or on their way. Location: Read more…

In the last two days, Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls have moved on from our feeders. About 30 Evening Grosbeaks continue to visit, now in the company of male Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. On Mount Julian Road, within a known breeding territory, we encountered our first Red-shouldered Hawk of Read more…

In what’s turning out to be the winter/spring of the Barred Owl, another bird has turned up, this time just north of the city. It has been sitting out in plain view in a backyard where there’s lots of feeder activity and a large contingent of squirrels and chipmunks. It Read more…

A Northern Saw-whet Owl made a stop-over on its northward migration today. It turned up in a tree in the front yard of a house on Gilmour Street in Peterborough. Location: Peterborough Observer: Erica Nol

A pair of House Sparrows has already laid claim to a nest box in our backyard. The female has been spending most of today and yesterday removing nesting material that I assume has been there since last summer. I guess she’s giving the place a makeover! A dozen American Robins Read more…