For anyone paying attention, the biggest story of the past summer has been the fury unleashed by planet Earth as a result of climate change. As Clive Hunter, an Australian public intellectual, said on CBC Radio’s Ideas recently, “What we’re now confronted with is a wakened, angry, raging beast.” The Read more…
At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 3, residents in the Tobin Court and Evans Dr area in the north end of the city, reported the sudden death of 12 Mallard ducks. Earlier a group of 14 ducks was observed walking up Tobin from a local pond just south of Read more…
My photo of a Great Blue Heron with a crayfish in its beak. Taken at Millbrook on 31-August-2017 ~ 2:00 p.m. Trudy Gibson
I observed a Great Egret on the Indian River in Warsaw. It was right behind Warsaw Public School. The bird came several evenings in a row around August 11. Sandra Richardson, Warsaw
On August 23, I saw about 25 Barn Swallows on hydro wires on the 4th Line of Douro-Dummer near Cottesloe. So few these days. On August 25, I was riding my bike in the same location and saw 5 or so Barn Swallows in the same location. As I rode Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Aug 25, 2017 15:05 by Ben Taylor – Peterborough–Meadowvale Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Squat heron with black back and a light coloured plume feather standing on a log in plain sight.” On August 28, I came across this Read more…
Now’s the time to be looking for migrating Common Nighthawks. The best time to see flocks is late afternoon and evening. They feed as they fly and are often seen over water. In my experience, they often turn up after a rain event. Here are some recent sightings from Tim Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 27, 2017 14:28 by E. Straka – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) (1) – Reported Aug 27, 2017 14:28 by E. Straka – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: Read more…
After a slow start this summer, the number of Giant Swallowtail sightings/reports appears to be increasing. “We have a resident Giant Swallowtail in our garden in Keene. It particularly likes the pink Phlox.” Susan Vance “On August 26, we paddled Read more…
Beavermead Park in Peterborough is one the city’s premier birding destinations, especially now as fall migration is underway. Bill Crins had 24 species in the park during an hour of birding on August 23 (see checklist below). These included two Red Crossbills, a bird seldom seen in Peterborough. Red Crossbill Read more…
I’ve been paddling down to watch the 2 young Bald Eagles since June. Up until yesterday I always found them high in white pines within sight of their nest. August 17th was the first day they ventured farther, to a heron nest about a mile from the eagle nest. (Herons Read more…
Monarch sightings in the Kawarthas have been far more numerous this summer than in the recent past. For example, Tim Dyson has had 353 sightings in the Warsaw/Stoney Lake area as of today. Like many people, I have at least one in the garden almost every time I look out. Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 20, 2017 18:00 by Chris Risley – Peterborough – Rotary Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Seen flying north along the river by Chris Risley and then spotted again about 15 minutes later flying south along the river.”
Wendy Bowen of Buckhorn reports a bracket fungus growing on a fallen log beside her garage (August 20, 2017). I was finally able to identify it as a Cinnibar Polypore. Apparently, it is widespread in Ontario but not common. I’d never seen it before. One website describes it as “Tough, Read more…
Why Climate Change Isn’t Our Biggest Environmental Problem, and Why Technology Won’t Save Us by Richard Heinberg Published by Post Carbon Institute – August 17, 2017 Reposted with permission from Ecowatch. Our core ecological problem is not climate change. It is overshoot, of which global warming is a symptom. Overshoot Read more…
I spotted a Great Egret in a pond on Fisher Drive in Peterborough on August 14. The pond is sort of tucked in behind the last factory on Fisher as you approach Brealey Drive. Also the Red-headed Woodpecker still makes regular stops at our feeder throughout the day. Marina Kosichek, Read more…
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Aug 14, 2017 14:14 by Dan Chronowic – Lansdowne St. and The Parkway – Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Hunting Rock Pigeons above the Spaghetti Factory. Caught a Rock Pigeon and landed on the top of the truck garage Read more…
This Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) was trying to set-up nests on my front walkway. It had 5 holes dug already. I was able to get a video of it. This is one pretty creature and aptly named too! Rick Stankiewicz, Keene Note: The Great Golden Digger Wasp is Read more…
On August 5, 2017 at about noon, there was a Great Egret flying north up the Indian River just north of “The Back Dam” just upstream from Warsaw. As I paddled towards where it had suddenly spiraled downward behind some trees, I finally noticed it perched on someone’s dock. Shortly Read more…
On July 29, my grandson and I discovered a jelly-blob looking “creature” in Buckhorn Lake. It’s about the size of a small loaf bread (or a haggis !) and seems to have some seaweed attached to it (or even through it). Toni Sinclair, Buckhorn Lake Note: This is probably a Read more…
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (5) – Reported Jul 31, 2017 10:00 by Rick Lauzon – Bellmere Winds G.C., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “very easy to see both adults and juveniles all around the golf course, looking from the parking lot, and up and down the road Read more…
Today, July 22, at the Nonquon lagoons in Port Perry, there was an interesting mix of life and death struggles. Lots of sights of successful breeding as Mallards, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Trumpeter Swans showed off their new families. Very few shorebirds but the habitat is still not good Read more…
On Saturday, July 22, I saw a Great Crested Flycatcher, a bird we have never seen before. The sighting was brief, with no time for a photo, but the tricoloured front view of light grey, soft lemon yellow and orange was unmistakable. Another first this year is a family of Read more…
Update re: John Deyell’s sighting (July 14, 2017) of Trumpeter Swans nesting in Sandy Creek Bay near Woodland Camp Site. Apparently, this same pair had 2 cygnets last year, unbeknownst to most people (saw photos from October last year taken by camp owner). This year they have 1 cygnet. I’ve Read more…
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (1) – Reported Jul 20, 2017 14:50 by Ian Sturdee – 5997–5999 Highway 7, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen CA-ON (44.4328,-77.8960), Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Flew over road while I was driving. Identified by shape, size and overall colouring including streaked underparts. Had a good look Read more…
This spring (2017) I had a unique opportunity to photograph a Snapping Turtle that was unaware of my presence and as a result I was able for the first time to capture one with its neck fully extended and travelling at “top speed” (for a turtle). For years in the Read more…
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) (1) – Reported Jul 19, 2017 09:26 by Bill Crins – Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist:
First, a disclaimer. I am far from being an expert on the edible wild. That being said, this is an area I want to explore in coming years, partly because it has great potential in getting more people interested in nature. This is especially true right now, given the popularity Read more…
I had a great day in the field on July 7. I was in the Lily Lake area and found a Green Heron NEST with three fuzzy herons, as well as eggshells. Later, I found what I think is a Porcupine den. I also collected a few sedges and a Read more…
This is a series of photos from Rick Stankiewicz of a Common Green Darner emerging from the nymphal case. Enjoy!