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
Yellow-rumped Warbler – Ecology Park – April 23, 2017 – Helen & Larry Keller
We have had a little Chipping Sparrow flying up against our windows over the last 3 days. It sits on the window sills and sliding door frames looking in and sometimes flies at the windows. We would love to know what might be causing this weird behaviour. We’ve also had a male Hairy Woodpecker coming to our feeder. Wendy Marrs, Peterborough
Chipping Sparrow at window – Wendy Marrs
Hairy Woodpecker – Wendy Marrs
Note: The bird see its reflection in the window, assumes it’s another male in its territoy, and flies up against the window to drive the intruder (its reflection) away. Robins and cardinals often do the same thing. D.M
On April 14th we were sitting on our dock and our neighbour saw a big bird flying to a tree. We got our spotting scope out and found that there were two Great Blue Herons in a nest in a clump of five pine trees. Later, we discovered that there are actually three nests! Even though we see lots of herons, it is the first time we actually found a nest. Rosemary and Claudio Rosada, Lower Buckhorn Lake
Great Blue Heron (Paul Anderson)
I was so excited to see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the brushy trees near our house this morning (April 13) -just classic and unmistakable. It had a white eye ring and white wing bars, and he even showed a bit of red on the crown just to be sure! Jane Bremner, Warsaw
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet has a prominent eye ring. (Karl Egressy)
Got some great pictures of Ring-necked Ducks and Trumpeter Swans around Lakefield on April 11. Jeff Keller
Ring-necked Ducks – April 11, 2017 – Jeff Keller
Trumpeter Swans – April 11, 2017 – Jeff Keller
Mid-April is my favourite time to be on the island. Silence and not a light to be seen. Today the River Otters were out in force. Running, sliding and feasting on fish.The highlight was a flyby of three swans (Trumpeters?) that were in the duckpond. Life is good! Rob Welsh, Stony Lake
River otter eating a fish at Gannon’s Narrows, Buckhorn Lake (by Kinsley Hubbs)
Stony Lake – April 10, 2017 – Rob Welsh
On April 4, there were 2 Osprey on the nesting platform in Young’s Point. Most of Stony Lake is still frozen but there were pair of absolutely resplendent loons dancing and calling. Rob Welsh, Stony Lake
Common Loon (Karl Egressy)
