Drew Monkman

Eight intrepid folks, not intimidated by the ominous forecast, were rewarded by reasonable weather and a vanguard of early bird migrants for PFN’s 2013 inaugural edition of the Sunday morning wildlife walks. It being early spring, we stuck mostly with the birds. Flybys at the zoo meeting area included Wood Read more

In the woods NE of Cavan were two fox sparrows. Nearby fields had lots of mallards, several wood ducks, a couple of black ducks, and one pintail. I heard a kingfisher over the creek and watched a male pileated excavating a nest hole. Location: Cavan Observer: Scott McKinley

On today’s Ontario Field Ornithologists trip the group saw a total of 61 species. We birded the Otonabee River, Lakefield Sewage Lagoons, the Nephton and Petroglyphs area, Burleigh Falls, Young’s Point Road, Orange Corners and Morton Line. Highlights included 15 species of waterfowl, 2 Bald Eagles at the nest on Read more

This morning there were at least 2 sandhill cranes heard calling along the section of the 9th line of Douro north of Parkhill Rd in the ploughed field. There where also 6 Blue-spotted Salamanders in a flooded ditch on Camp Line Rd and Osprey at Trent fixing the nest. Today Read more

A nice day to go for a drive! Recent arrivals that I saw include: 3 Eastern Meadowlarks on David Fife Line between Hope Mill Rd and Nelson Rd 1 Eastern Bluebird at the intersection of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and Settlers Line (I also had one yesterday at Flynn’s Read more

I heard a Common Loon in the wee hours of April 1 (no fooling!) and again this morning. Location: Buckhorn Lake Observer: Toni Sinclair

This morning there was a Pied-billed Grebe and 12 Wood ducks in the bay at lock 23. There are also at least 8 Great Blue Herons at the University road wetland. Location: Otonabee River and University Road Wetland Observer: Luke Berg

Gannon Narrows north of Ennismore had many ducks over the 2013 Easter weekend. In the late afternoon on 31 March, I checked the Narrows from two locations – the bridge (not recommended if significant traffic) and from the southernmost shore of Oak Orchard Estates. The strong current through the Narrows Read more

Bob and I were visiting the Arboretum at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, taking advantage of some fantastic warm spring weather. In a muddy patch at the edge of the Marsh Trail, we spotted Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) plants…lots of them, in fact.poking up through the dead and decaying Read more

I birded from Trent U. to Lakefield today along the Otonabee River. Many ducks. Saw all 3 merganser species, large flocks of Bufflehead and Ring-necked Ducks, Scaup (Greater ?), Common Goldeneyes, Redhead, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Black Duck, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Grackles, and Turkey Vultures. Location: Otonabee River Read more

Saw first Osprey return to nesting platform just outside keen on Cty. Rd.#2 west of town this morning. Location: Keene Observer: Rick Stankiewicz

We heard two American Woodcock last night at 8:56 pm from the dead end at the southwest end of Jameson Drive (just west of Fisher Dr) in SW Peterborough. After peenting for a minute one flew up and away to the south while another continued peenting. Also heard were Killdeer, Read more

This morning I was walking my dogs on the and saw 2 wood ducks, 1 eastern phoebe, and two brown-headed cowbirds. Location: 9th line of Douro Observer: Luke Berg

Lots of early spring migrants seen today, including turkey vulture, killdeer, horned lark, winter wren and wood duck. Last evening heard an American woodcock peenting in the field behind my house. Location: Bethany Observer: Kim Clark

JB Jaboor reported to me that he had a Turkey Vulture on Crowley Line yesterday. I had six, myself, today, four in the south of the county and two near Lakefield. One was sitting atop an old barn on Cameron Line south of Hwy 7 – a likely place for Read more

Last evening (March 27, 2013) I spent a little over an hour checking out a few spots around the east end of Rice Lake for waterfowl. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. The Mather’s Corners meltwater pond is about 10% open now and should fully open this Read more

Waterfowl on Little Lake this morning included several Redhead, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Hooded and Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Mallards, all in breeding plumage and activity finery. The merlin was also giving fluttery display flights. Cheers, Sean Location: Little Lake Observer: Sean Smith

Today on little lake, I saw hooded merganser, bufflehead, am. widgeon, common goldeneye, redhead, ring necked duck,greater scaup, and common merganser merlin. On March 29 at the zoo, I heard a merlin calling. When I spotted it high up in a white pine, I saw a male merlin swoop down Read more

Today I saw 6 horned larks in open fields west of 1/4 line on South side. 10am Location: 12th Line of Cavan Observer: Ken Rumble

Today I saw Hooded Merganzers, Ring-necked Ducks , Coot, Merlins, Common Mergansers, mallards, Canada Geese, Common Goldeneyes and Buffleheads in and around Little Lake Cemetery. Location: Little Lake Cemetery Observer: Ken Rumble

Evening Grosbeaks come to my feeder on a daily basis, and have been doing so since the fall. Location: 209 Zion Line, 1st concession south of Millbrook, near the western end of it. Sitting in middle of 62 acres of old Xmas tree farm. Observer: Jim Lloyd

There were 3 tundra swans on the Otonabee River on the north side of Lock 24 at 4 pm this afternoon. Got a very close look with my scope, and could see the yellow on the bill of one of them. Kim Clark – Bethany Location: Lock 24, Otonabee River Read more

A great blue heron just flew by in this snowstorm. Poor thing..probably looking for open water. Buckhorn Lake.. Kawartha Hideway. JP Location: Kawartha Hideway, Buckhorn Lake Observer: Jane Philpott

Today, I had a male Ring-necked Pheasant in my yard. It stayed most of the day. (Pheasants turn up around Peterborough several times a year but where they are coming from – someone’s escaped pet? – is a mystery. D.M.) Location: McCrae Drive, Peterborough Observer: Liliana Perez

Tonight I had the pleasure of having a Great Horned Owl pay a brief visit to my yard. It landed on the roof of the house and I was able to see the long tufts on the head and even the talons. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay long. Location: Warsaw Observer: Read more

It is good to have the birds returning. With the cooper’s hawk hanging around so much this winter, things were quiet at my feeders compared to other years. Yesterday there were 12 different species including 6 immature pine grosbeaks and 6 redpolls. Sue Paradisis Location: Tudor Cres. Peterborough Observer: Sue Read more

I just got back from the Garden Hill pond where there were 2700 Canada Geese. In amongst them there were at least 10 Cackling Geese, 6 American Wigeon, 2 Hooded Merganser, and 1 Blue Morph Snow Goose. There was also 1 Cedar Waxwing. To reach the pond turn right off Read more