For years I have had grey and black squirrels visiting my yard and deck. This is the first time I have seen this little guy. He is a beautiful brown with a yellow blond tail. I can’t tell for sure but his eyes seem to have a red hue to Read more…
Early on the morning of October 22, 2014, I was able to get a picture of a Fisher by using a night vision trail camera. The picture was taken off the 5th line of Douro on Lynch’s Rock Road. Heather Watson
Late this afternoon I watched an adult female White-winged Crossbill feeding a juvenile crossbill on my niger feeders here in Lakefield. Tony Bigg
We were fortunate to see this Barred Owl early last Saturday morning (Oct 25) on the Stoney Lake Rd. Gwen Forsyth
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (1) – Reported Oct 26, 2014 07:46 by Bill Crins – Peterborough–Beavermead Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist:
For some people, the natural world can be an intimidating place. Although it might seem illogical to be afraid of a tiny creature like a spider or bat, we can’t deny that some animals do indeed elicit a fear response. With Halloween upon us, what better time to talk about Read more…
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (2) – Reported Oct 22, 2014 09:30 by Shauna Ryner – Lakefield–Sewage Lagoons, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (1) – Reported Oct 22, 2014 07:24 by Donald Sutherland – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: Read more…
Brant (Branta bernicla) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Oct 20, 2014 18:11 by Luke Berg – Chemong Lake–west end of causeway, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Continuing bird sitting on water on south side of the road about 100m from shore. Viewed from Rotary Park parking lot on Read more…
A neighbour on Rice Lake sent me two photos of a Snow Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese. He photographed the bird on or about Oct. 18, 2014 Ron Mackay, Foley Road (adjacent to Elmhirst’s Resort)
American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is in full boom now. Some people may have it in their yards and gardens. To my knowledge, it is not native this far north. It can, however, be found in the Niagara Peninsula in the south west of Ontario and along Lake Ontario. Bill Read more…
After we closed our Apsley-area cottage on Saturday (October 18), we took the boat and went by the cliff where the Peregrine Falcons nested this summer. We were surprised to see one of the adults flying above us. I guess this individual is planning on staying longer than us at Read more…
This unusual American Goldfinch with white in the tail feathers turned up in our yard this past weekend. Leisa Baker, Peterborough Note: This is a leucistic bird, meaning that it is lacking pigment in the tail feathers. Leucism seems to turn up quite regularly in goldfinches. This condition is caused Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) CONFIRMED – Reported Oct 17, 2014 07:30 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Water St., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Not the same bird. Juvenile, seen in same spot behind Battery shop. Brown back, lighter front, yellowish legs(not gangly). Large white spots Read more…
It’s mid-May 2035, and I’ve just boarded a bus outside the new downtown condominium complex where my wife and I now live. It’s never more than a 10-minute wait for comfortable, clean and convenient public transit. On this particular morning, I’m heading up to Jackson Park, which is always Read more…
Brant (Branta bernicla) – Reported Oct 15, 2014 19:35 by Travis Cameron – Lakefield – Home, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Flock calling noisily low overhead. Heading south. Too dark to get a visual. It is the first time I’ve heard this species vocalize, but it was Read more…
Yesterday, (the 12th of October), while walking a road north of Belmont Lake, a small flock of eight Common Redpolls flew overhead. I pished them down onto a fencerow, where they stayed for a short time before flying off again. I checked Ron Pittaway`s 2014 Winter Finch Forecast on the Read more…
Check out Don McLeod’s newest photo albums of sightings at or near his home on Chemong Lake. There are great shots and commentary of a Merlin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Cardinal, Green Heron, swarming ants and Northern River Otters on a fishing expedition!
Over three days in the last week of September, we were seeing large numbers of Common Grackles here at Stony Lake. There were hundreds if not a thousand over the course of several hours the first day. Then 200 or so the next two days. They appeared to be all Read more…
We’ve seen this Great Blue Heron for the past couple of weeks in Lakefield (mostly at the locks/power station, but also at the marina) and wonder if it should have gone south by now? From what I’ve read, they leave in late September to mid-October depending on conditions, but it’s Read more…
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Oct 08, 2014 07:15 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Water St., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Continuing adult. Further downstream on west side of river. Barely noticed with binos as it was far away and in a different spot. Read more…
At the rate I’ve been going through sunflower seed this fall, a second mortgage is looking like a distinct possibility. The dozen or so Purple Finches that have been with us since mid-September have been particularly voracious eaters. However, I’m not complaining. Although these attractive birds show up at our Read more…
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) (1) – Reported Oct 07, 2014 12:15 by Scott Gibson – Bensfort Road x Base Line livestock ponds, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “in amongst large flock of Canada Geese (CANG); noticeably smaller (perhaps 2/3 size of the smaller CANG), but really evident Read more…
This Coyote at the back of our yard was our early morning visitor on Saturday, October 4. We are located in Douro-Dummer, one street north of the Caves Road. We hear Coyotes most nights between 11PM and 1AM. Maggie Sharpe
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) (2) – Reported Oct 04, 2014 12:00 by Chris Risley – Havelock: Belaporine Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “at back of grassy mud flat area” American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) (40) – Reported Oct 04, 2014 10:45 by Scott Gibson – Peterborough – Read more…
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) (1) – Reported Oct 02, 2014 10:20 by Peterborough County Birds Database – Otonabee River–between Lock 23 and 24, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “amongst MALL, smaller size relative to MALL, white/pale discrete loreal spot.” Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (1) – Reported Oct Read more…
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (8) – Reported Sep 29, 2014 19:20 by Samantha Henry – James McLean Oliver Ecological Centre, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Birds were caught in mist net for banding purposes. 8 hatch year and 1 second year owls were caught and banded.”
TRENT NATURE AREAS – university campus offers easy access to local nature With over 1,400 acres of land situated on the banks of Otonabee River and Trent Canal and over 30 kilometres of nature trails, Trent University offers some of the best nature-viewing opportunities in the Peterborough area. The combination Read more…
If you are walking along the Trans-Canada Trail near Lily Lake, keep an eye out for a Ruffed Grouse, almost acting like a ‘tame chicken’ – on the main path between the pedestrian bridge to the new housing development and the Lily Lake bridge. My son Greg and I saw Read more…
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (1) – Reported Sep 27, 2014 05:30 by Trent Ornithology – James McLean Oliver Ecological Centre, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: NOTE: In a research study led by Dr. Erica Nol of Trent University, the owls are caught at night using fine netting and Read more…
Flying ants were swarming in Oshawa, too, on September 21st. I saw them mid-afternoon. There were clouds of them around our backyard. Fred Ford, Oshawa Note: Scroll down for more ant swarm sightings.