Sometime after I photographed ‘my’ Painted Lady cardinal at 8:07 am. after earlier seeing her eating white millet on the ground, I saw a an Eastern Chipmunk in the same small area for a few seconds. Could it be that it was starving, and came out of its burrow prematurely? Murray Palmer, Read more…
Over the weekend of Feb. 22-23, we had a Virginia Opossum in the backyard of our house at the southern edge of Peterborough. The animal was nestled right up against the foundation on the sunny south side of the house. It may have been eating spilled seed at a Read more…
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Feb 25, 2014 08:20 by Jason Webb – stakeout Snowy Owl, Peterborough (2013-2014), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3348997,-78.3502221&ll=44.3348997,-78.3502221 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17191795 – Comments: “sitting on the billboard facing north on the north-west corner of the intersection”
On February 23, there was a pair of Long-tailed Ducks actively diving in the open lead below the Ptbo. Zoo “Pumphouse dam”, viewed from Meadowvale Pk. on the east side of the Otonabee, opposite TASS School. Nearby, a backyard chipmunk took a peak outside today. Also near TASSS, a male Read more…
This male Red Fox has been seen a few times this winter. This morning, he crossed the road into our orchard and travelled up through the adjoining forest. He’s big, colourful and bushy (some might say to me,”not unlike yourself”) but he’s more handsome than me at this stage! Michael Read more…
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 20:20:57 -0500 From: Ron Tozer <rtozer@vianet.ca> To: ontbirds <birdalert@ontbirds.ca> Subject: [Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 20 February 2014 Message-ID: <CF2C1429.12320%rtozer@vianet.ca> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Despite this winter's very cold temperatures and deep snow here, remnants of earlier groups of Wild Turkeys still persisted this week: Mew Lake Campground (1), Trailer Sanitation Station (2) and Visitor Centre (1). The first Gray Jay nest under construction was found on the 18th. The nest of this same banded pair was the first one discovered last year as well, but on February 24, nearly a week later. Spring has sprung! The frequency of calling by Boreal Chickadees increases from late February through March and reaches a peak just before winter flock breakup. More calling makes it easier to locate them in the dense spruce foliage they frequent. Observations this week suggest that increased calling may be starting to occur. Numbers of both crossbill species continue to be low, but reports are increasing as the weather improves and more birders are out looking. The first Pine Siskin reports since early December occurred this week. (more…)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Feb 20, 2014 11:30 by Katsu Sakuma – Scrivener rd x county rd 2, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.1431674,-78.311609&ll=44.1431674,-78.311609 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17122263 – Comments: “Lightly barred. It was perching on top of the hydro pole.”
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) (1) – Reported Feb 20, 2014 10:00 by Iain Rayner – Peterborough–Millennium Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3028834,-78.31688&ll=44.3028834,-78.31688 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17113312 – Comments: “Seen from 20 feet in No Frills Parking lot with Mallards feeding on seed. Tiny duck, maroon head, Grey sides, White spur. Yellow Read more…
A basic understanding of the theory of evolution provides both emotional and intellectual satisfaction to the experience of observing nature. It adds a whole new level of appreciation to the cardinal you’re watching at your feeder or to the orchid that’s blooming on your windowsill. Evolution allows us to ask Read more…
On Tuesday February11, my wife & I were having lunch, when she noticed a brown and white feathered creature sitting on our garland outside the kitchen window. We investigated and to our surprise it was an Eastern Screech-Owl. I took a number of pictures, which I’m sending you. We had Read more…
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) (2) CONFIRMED – Reported Feb 17, 2014 12:50 by Iain Rayner – Gannon’s Narrows, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.4732274,-78.4563694&ll=44.4732274,-78.4563694 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17039524 – Comments: “Black ducks, white mark by eye, white wing patch” White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) (1) – Reported Feb 17, 2014 10:30 by Dan Read more…
Numbers show Great Backyard Bird Count on track to set new records. Record Number of Countries Join the Great Backyard Bird Count Bird watchers on pace to shatter records For release: February 19, 2014 New York, N.Y., Ithaca, N.Y., and Port Rowan, ON– By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, February 18, participants Read more…
I saw this Pileated Woodpecker on Saturday, Feb 8 on the 7th Line of Selwyn, close to the Lakefield Highway. Jeff Keller, Bridgenorth
I just finished reading the article you wrote about the Red-bellied Woodpecker for the Peterborough Examiner 2010. I am happy to say that we had a Red-bellied Woodpecker visit our bird feeder in Jan. of this year. I have not seen one before or since. I also want to tell Read more…
This afternoon, Feb. 15, I took the dog down to her favourite park, Little Cat just north of Kingston, for a walk on the south-end trail. Someone’s been running a snowmobile over that track, so it makes for easy walking. On the way back I found not one Read more…
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (1) – Reported Feb 16, 2014 10:30 by Mike Stiell – Scriven Rd, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.1469973,-78.3132291&ll=44.1469973,-78.3132291 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16989100 – Comments: “4th time seeing this individual. 3 of the times it was on the 4th hydro pole north of County Rd 2 on Scriven Read more…
Great YouTube compilation of photos from Massachusetts on this winter’s amazing Snowy Owl invasion. Covers some of the basic biology and reasons for the invasion. Click here. Janet and David Radcliffe
On Wednesday, Feb. 12 on Woodland Drive, I noticed something in the tree, so my husband turned the car around and we went back. The bird flew from the tree and landed in the field, where it scared away crows who were feeding on something (turned out to Read more…
There was quite a variety of waterfowl at Lock 19 this morning, February 14. I was able to identify two pairs Red-breasted Mergansers, two pairs of Hooded Mergansers, a White-winged Scoter, a Long-tailed Duck (female, I think), several Common Goldeneye and many Mallards. I’ve sent along a photograph of one Read more…
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) (1) – Reported Feb 15, 2014 11:31 by Erica Nol – Peterborough–Lock 19, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.2879468,-78.3082509&ll=44.2879468,-78.3082509 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16955038 Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (3) – Reported Feb 14, 2014 15:30 by Mike Stiell – 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: Read more…
Genealogy has never been more popular. It’s wonderful to be able to trace our roots back in time and to see how the choices and life experiences of our ancestors have impacted our own lives. Both of my parents have done a great deal of research on their Read more…
Genealogy has never been more popular. It’s wonderful to be able to trace our roots back in time and to see how the choices and life experiences of our ancestors have impacted our own lives. Both of my parents have done a great deal of research on their respective sides Read more…
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (1) – Reported Feb 12, 2014 12:05 by Chris Risley – Peterborough–Millennium Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3028834,-78.31688&ll=44.3028834,-78.31688 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16902573 – Comments: “continuing bird; large white bird; sitting among Mallards on ice on west side of river near walk bridge at No Frills; head tucked; Read more…
I just wanted to let you know that I spotted the Snowy Owl, finally, this evening (February 11) at 5:50 on Line 3 Road, just west of Chemong on the north side of the road. The beautiful bird was deep in the field on a bale of hay. Marci
I spent most of the weekend birding the Kingston area including Wolfe and Amherst Island. The Snowy Owls continue to dominant the winter birding scene with 15+ on February 8th on Wolfe Island, mainly the west end of the island and 11 on February 9th on Amherst Island, with at Read more…
I spotted a Snowy Owl near the juncture of Slanted Road and Highway 7 near Lindsay on Sunday Feb. 9, 2014. It was on the top of a half-dead cedar on Slanted Road about 500 metres from the Highway. Weather condition of snow and mist did not make for a Read more…
The Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) Young Birders’ group had a very successful outing Saturday, February 8, in the Peterborough and Cobourg areas. 49 species were found including 16 species of waterfowl and 6 species of gull. Highlights included Coopers, Sharp-shinned hawks, Bald Eagle (1st-year), Pileated Woodpecker, White-winged Scoter; Trumpeter Swan Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Feb 06, 2014 14:30 by Warren Dunlop – Peterborough–Simcoe St. at Water St., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.304975,-78.3184004&ll=44.304975,-78.3184004 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16829602 – Comments: “Flew in from E; landed on utility building atop office on NE corner of Simcoe and Water St; perched for Read more…
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) (1) – Reported Feb 05, 2014 14:50 by Drew Monkman – Otonabee River–between Lock 23 and 24, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3806307,-78.2783819&ll=44.3806307,-78.2783819 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S16799506 – Comments: “across from bus barns; on ice and then in water; all field marks visible” Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1) Read more…
Cold temperatures and snow characterized this first month of the year 2014. Despite a few days with temperatures above seasonal, starting around January 10, the mean temperatures this month were colder than normal throughout the province. There were a few exceptions – Moosonee, Petawawa and Ottawa – which experienced temperatures Read more…