March 2009

Cathy Darevic and I had our first Osprey of the year today. It was flying along the Otonabee in the vicinity of the East City baseball diamond nest of last year. Location: Peterborough Observer: Simon Dodsworth

Whilst doing an Earth Day walk in Lakefield on Saturday evening (March 28) our party came across a Leopard Frog hopping along the side of the road in Lakefield (9:10 pm). Earlier in the evening I heard several American Woodcocks around Trent. One was right at the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary Read more…

The warm temperature (+5 C) and rain triggered some salamander migration this evening from a hardwood stand, across Mt. Julian – Viamede Road Road, to a known breeding pond (44.5789, -78.1482). At 8:40 pm I counted 28 Blue-spotted and five (yellow-) Spotted Salamanders crossing a 100 m stretch of the Read more…

I only had time for a quick check this evening, but 1 Blue-spotted Salamander crossing the road near my house at 8:45 p.m. (~ 8 km west of Buckhorn) heading north towards the breeding pond. I didn’t see any Spotted Salamanders. I heard no frogs. Snow patches in the woods Read more…

At around 7:30 p.m., Simon Dodsworth, Rob Craig and I heard a few Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs calling from the wetland along University Road. A Great Horned Owl was also perched atop a dead tree in the marsh, too. Location: University Road, Peterborough Observer: Colin Jones

While cleaning up the backyard, I was visited by a flock of 25 or so waxwings. The sound seemed a bit off, so when I took a closer look I noticed about 10 of them were Bohemian Waxwings. They appeared to be feeding from the swollen Silver Maple buds. Location: Read more…

Today at approximately 5 p.m. I observed a Painted Turtle sunning himself on a log in the marsh at the end of North School Rd. in Young’s Point. (Note: temperature today reached at least 15 C. The snow has been almost entirely gone for almost two weeks, at least in Read more…

Today, we walked the dogs in Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Five singing male Pine Siskins were heard and after watching a pair for about 10 minutes the female was observed gathering and carrying nesting material to a nearly completed nest ~5-6m up in a 8-9m young White Spruce. Near the entrance Read more…

This morning at about 10:15 AM my dog Willow and I came face to face with a large Wild Turkey beside the third green at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. It walked out of a cedar clump right in front of us. Willow was off leash and gave chase Read more…

Today in Peterborough, I saw my first Northern Flicker of the year at Aylmer and Sherbrooke Streets. Location: Peterborough Observer: Randy Smith

On Stony Lake, increasing numbers of waterfowl can be seen from the bottom of Dunford’s Road, northeast of Burleigh Falls, about 1.5 km south of Hwy 28. Present today were: Bald Eagle 1 (subadult); Canada Goose 15; Mallard 8; Am. Black Duck 2; American Wigeon 3; Common Merganser 200+; Hooded Read more…

Half way down 6 Ft. Bay Road near Buckhorn there were 2 male Eastern Bluebirds on March 25. Today, there is also a female bluebird. Today on Buckhorn Lake, an Otter hung around most of the day. “Our” Great Blue Heron seems to have returned, wading along the shoreline. Around Read more…

Near Woodview, there was a Red-shouldered Hawk circling over Hwy 28 with a rodent in its clutches. At our backyard feeder a female Red-bellied Woodpecker continues to be an irregular visitor. Location: Woodview Observer: Michael Butler

A Pied-bill Grebe, Mute Swan, very vocal Merlin, a few Ring-necked Ducks and a few Hooded Mergansers were at Little Lake today. Location: Little Lake, Peterborough Observer: Tony Bigg

An Eastern Meadowlark was hovering over a pasture on the northwest side of Fife’s Bay Road and Old Hwy. 7 today at around 11 a.m. Location: Peterborough Observer: Everett Hanna

At 2:30 p.m. today, my husband saw 2 Sandhill Cranes in a field on the south side of Stoney Lake Road, approximately 1 km east of County Road 40. Location: Stoney Lake Observer: Maureen Smith

This morning, I heard an Eastern Phoebe singing at the end of the cottage road below the locks in Lakefield. Location: Lakefield Observer: Colin Jones

I thought at first I had three really dark hawks above my feeders and went in for binocs. When I came out 14 Turkey Vultures rose out of the spruce tree, the first of the season for me. Location: Peterborough Observer: Sue Hill

I saw a Turkey Vulture flying over Riverview Park this afternoon. Location: Peterborough Observer: Tony Bigg

A quick check of the pond on the southeast corner at Mather’s Corners on County Road 2 this morning (drive a bit south on Drummond Line for best viewing) yielded 3 Tundra Swans and 10 plus Northern Pintails. The Great Blue Herons were back at the heronry at the south Read more…

I regret to say that the Groundhog that was digging up my backyard last year has survived the winter. It was out sunning himself this afternoon. Location: Peterborough Observer: Anne Anthony

My husband and I were on a bike ride tonight and saw a Great Grey Owl on Irish Line, Ennismore. Location: Ennismore Observer: Jennie Armitage

Yesterday, my wife saw three Snow Geese flying over Webster Road east of Peterborough. I saw a Belted Kingfisher, a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a Beaver on Cavan Creek in Cavan. At Little Lake there was a pair of American Widgeon and two male Green-winged Teal in addition to Read more…

I saw several Common Grackles today in downtown Peterborough. Location: Peterborough Observer: Randy Smith

As I was walking my dog today along the trail on the south side of the Otonabee River between the cottages and the river, I passed three workers removing the remains of a large pine tree they had cut down. A small flock of White-winged Crossbills was scratching around the Read more…

Ducks at Little Lake today included Ring- neck Ducks, Common Mergansers, a Red-breasted Merganser, many Hooded Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes and Buffleheads. Location: Little Lake, Peterborough Observer: Ken Rumble

Red-winged Blackbirds were observed today near the Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary. Location: Trent University Observer: Luke Berg