My husband and I spotted a Snowy Owl at about 10 AM on November 14th. It was sitting in a tree along the side of our road. We live about 10 min’s northwest of Young’s Point. The owl was just sitting there looking around. We were able to reverse the Read more…
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, there are actually many ways in which digital technology can inspire all of us to get moving, exploring and enjoying nature. For instance, the act of sharing your experiences through social media, together with the feedback from others that often follows, can keep the outdoor Read more…
A pair of Evening Grosbeaks visited our cardinal feeder on November 15 at about noon. They enjoyed a good feed of safflower seeds. They were only here for about 15 minutes, the beautiful male arriving at the feeder first and the female a few minutes later. Cheryl Lewis, Oakwood Crescent, Read more…
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) (2) – Reported Nov 12, 2015 08:50 by Ben Taylor – Norwood Millpond, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3876934,-77.978657&ll=44.3876934,-77.978657 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S25805982 – Comments: “smaller, short necked geese mixed in with Canada Geese” Redhead (Aythya americana) (1) – Reported Nov 12, 2015 13:52 by Martin Parker – Read more…
A beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk visited our garden several times over four days in late October. It was quite small… hardly bigger than the Blue Jays it was chasing. Gwen Forsyth I shot this picture of a Barred Owl in Jackson’s Park on November 1. It was 11:30 AM right off Read more…
We heard the quetzals before we saw them. Their resonant yelping call notes emanated from high up in the ancient trees bordering the trail. At first, I only got frustrating glimpses of the iridescent green back and throat. The small flock was moving about in the thick foliage and feeding Read more…
“November comes And November goes, With the last red berries And the first white snows. With night coming early, And dawn coming late, And ice in the bucket And frost by the gate. The fires burn And the kettles sing, And earth sinks to rest Until next spring.” – Elizabeth Read more…
The first thing that strikes you about Boyd Island is its sheer size. At 1,167 acres or five square kilometres, it is the largest undeveloped – but still unprotected – island in southern Ontario. Located just east of Bobcaygeon at the north end of Pigeon Lake and only 20 kilometres Read more…
I photographed this spectacular American Robin on October 3rd. It has been gracing our yard since last spring. It built a nest on the downspout of our garage, and there were three, possibly four babies in the nest. Earlier in the summer, the robin still displayed some darker feathers. As Read more…
We have a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder in west-end Peterborough this morning. It is coming to the mixed seed and sunflower seed feeders. We’ve never had one previously! Robert Moos Maple Crescent (N.B. Red-bellied Woodpeckers rarely turn up at city feeders. They are, however, becoming more common in the Read more…
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) (3) – Reported Oct 24, 2015 10:40 by Ben Taylor – Briar Hill Bird Sanctuary, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “2 white, 1 blue/black”
I found a Dark-eyed Junco on my lawn today, and I think it flew into my window so I picked it up. That’s not the first time I have picked up a bird this season. At my cottage two birds flew into the big window so my dad picked them Read more…
A neighbour tells us he saw a Fisher along the Otonabee shoreline just north of Hiawatha at Kent’s Bay! We have noted the rabbit population is diminished. Also our cat disappeared in early August, I had let him out early morning, still dark. MNR state they are unaware of Fishers Read more…
Despite sub-zero temperatures, the PFN had a highly successful bird outing this morning. The bright sun and lack of wind made birding conditions very pleasant. With the heavy frost, leaves were raining down all morning. The highlight of the outing was a flock of 16 Sandhill Cranes flying south of Read more…
Late September through to the end of October is usually the busiest time of year at my backyard feeders. This year is no exception. At least two dozen White-throated Sparrows, along with lesser numbers of White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees Read more…
Two Pine Grosbeaks had returned on Sunday. Both appeared to be female or young but the light was from the back so mainly a silhouette was seen. On Saturday White-throated Sparrows arrived en mass and are still apparent. Bill Snowden, Ennismore
Ben Shearer and I walked the 10km of the 401 from the Escott-Rockport Road (west of Mallorytown) up to and back from the Whatever-it’s-called water body a km and a bit W of La Rue Mills Road, and we found a great diversity of species: among Mammals – Muskrat, Raccoon, Read more…
While walking in Jackson Park last Sunday (Oct. 4) in the late morning, I saw the most amazing swarming of Common Grackles. There were thousands of them. What a spectacle! It was like the Hitchcock movie, The Birds. Everyone was in awe and the noise was deafening. I’ve seen large Read more…
Had my first Dark-eyed Junco feeding under the feeder today, October 7th. Bill Snowden, Ennismore Note: Our first juncos arrived October 9th, along with a few more White-crowned Sparrows. Yesterday, the shrubby fields and woodlot edges in the Cavan area west of Peterborough were full of flocks of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Read more…
Canada is one of the safest, healthiest and best-educated countries in the world. This has not come about by accident. A long-standing commitment to making decisions based on evidence, not politics, has gone a long way to helping to build our prosperity. In recent years, however, the federal government has Read more…
White-crowned Sparrow at feeder this morning, October 5. Bill Snowden, Ennismore.
Philadelphia Vireo – Reported Sep 30, 2015 07:27 by Bill Crins – Peterborough–Beavermead Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Mourning Warbler – Reported Oct 01, 2015 10:00 by Basil Conlin – Peterborough–Beavermead Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “black cap with olive back and yellow underside, Read more…
Sitting down at the computer this week to write my column was a real pleasure, especially after an absence of 10 months. I used my time away to work on a nature activity guide entitled “The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-round Guide to Outdoor Learning”, which should be Read more…
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (4) – Reported Sep 22, 2015 08:53 by Bill Crins – Lakefield–Sewage Lagoons, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “4 flying over with 2 KILL, then came down to south pond searching for a place to land, circled low over ponds several times, could Read more…
As you know, I’ve been following the progress of my 6 Smilax plants for a few years now on the farm. This was the very first year that I was able to identify the plant as it was growing in the spring and I’m just delighted. I thought that what Read more…
We have had the privilege of observing the family of falcons on Anstruther Lake since May. Since the male and female took over the ravens’s nest on the cliff close to our cottage four years ago, I have been taking some notes of their activities throughout the summer. The first Read more…
Location: Woodland Campsite, Lakehurst, ON Sept. 20, 2015 Trumpeter Swan (tag #J85) came into the marsh at my camp this morning – rested and fed for a while. It eventually came out of the water and approached my trailer. It actually approached me, so I grabbed some corn and was Read more…
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) (90) – Reported Sep 20, 2015 10:00 by Peterborough County Birds Database – 621 Carveth Drive, Millbrook, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “several kettles throughout late morning, most quite high and moving east to west or southwesterly direction (12 + 10 + Read more…
At 10:35 pm on Sept. 21 at Kawartha Hideway on the north shore of Buckhorn Lake, I was out with the dogs and heard a bird which I figured was an owl. Checked my Peterson’s field guide… a Barred Owl. Hoohoo-hoohoo-hoohoo-hoohoo.. 8 accented notes in 2 groups of 4. Never Read more…
Pine Grosbeaks have been feeding on mountain-ash berries in my yard for the last few weeks, not eating the pulp but the seeds. Quite interesting to watch. This afternoon (Sept. 19) when we had the rain they were at the top of the tree fluttering their wings and having a Read more…