Drew Monkman

We are so excited to have a nest of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in a cavity of one of our aspen trees. Perfectly round hole and situated just right so I can see the feeding ritual. The young have been calling for days now and our forest is never quiet. These little Read more

Today I watched a female Monarch butterfly depositing eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves in our garden. Each egg looks like a tiny, white cylinder, smaller than the head of a pin. Both a small, young plant and a 5′ high mature plant were selected for egg-laying. Location: Maple Read more

The albino Common Grackle has been seen in our yard in the north end of Peterborough in recent days. I was able to get a number of good pictures of it. (Note: this bird has also been seen by many people on Montcalm Drive – D.M.) Location: 222 Farrier Cres., Read more

Nancy Harrison, who lives near Indian River, reports thousands of bees coming in the evening to the maple and elm trees near her house. According to local bee expert Glen McMullen, elms can attract bees by emitting sugar and alcohol compounds when the trees are stressed. According to WalterReeves.com, elms Read more

This morning I heard my first cicada of the summer. It was calling in our backyard. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

We have had a bear sighting on our property. A B&B guest was walking past our pond on Tuesday, June 26 around 11:00 a.m. and an “adult black bear came from the edge of the pond, stood on its hind legs, looked at her and ambled (south) into the bush” Read more

A pair of Sandhill Cranes and their chick can be seen foraging in the field just behind our house. We live a couple of houses down from the Miller Creek trail and this is the second year that we have been fortunate enough to have these lovely birds so close Read more

For the past two days I have had a young, pure white Common Grackle in my yard. It follows one of its parents around and is being fed. Location: Observer: Paul Corp

For the past two days we have seen an Eastern Towhee on Birchview Rd across from #1641 near McCrackens Landing. We frequently see the Indigo Bunting in this area, too. Location: across from #1641 on Birchview Road near McCrackens Landing on Stony Lake Observer: Lynne Cotton

Today, the Peterborough Field Naturalists (PFN) visited a bog near Chandos Lake. Large numbers of Rose Pogonia (100+) and lesser numbers of Swamp Pink orchids (30?) were in flower. Some other plants of interest included Round-leaved Sundew, Pitcher Plant, Bog Rosemary, Marsh Cinquefoil, Small-leaved Cranberry, Yellow (Whorled) Loosestrife, Bog Laurel, Read more

Today, I spotted a Black-crowned Night Heron at Beavermead Park at around 8 am. It was in the creek near the other side of the new chip truck. I flushed it from the water’s edge into a tree on the other side of the creek, and could clearly see the Read more

Today, when I was at a cottage on Stony lake, I found a Bonaparte’s Gull in with a flock of Ring-billed Gulls. It was still in first winter plumage. Location: Stony Lake Observer: Luke Berg

I walked the Bridgenorth Trail this evening with my daughter, Sophie. We heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling repeatedly at the Bridgenorth end of the trail. We also tried shaking the branches of the cedar trees and, sure enough, a cloud of 2 mm-long Argyresthia moths filled the air each time. Read more

So many of us have been noticing the browning and general deterioration of the cedars this spring. I was showing some people who were here at our house tonight that if you shake the branch of a cedar, a swarm of tiny white moths flies out so I guess the Read more

Today I saw my first White Admiral of the spring. Location: Buckhorn Observer: Drew Monkman

Today I birded the Carden Alvar, north of Kirkfield. I recorded 80 species: Wood Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Common Loon, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, American Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Cooper

I just had a wonderful experience. Tonight, at about 9:30 p.m., I decided to walk the Parkway Trail home from Chemong Rd (going east). I walked all the way to Hilliard Street and back because of the most amazing show of fireflies I have ever seen. It was a perfect Read more

Today around 12:00 pm on County Road 8 at Burn’s Bridge in Douro I spotted a mother Black Bear and her two young cubs. This is the second time this week I have seen them. I got a good view of the cubs this time. They are very small. I Read more

This morning I checked out the Fairbairn Marsh at 6:30 p.m. Lots of bird activity including Virginia Rail (in response to tape) and Willow Flycatcher, 12 Tree Swallows, 2 Barn Swallows, etc. There is also a Black-billed Cuckoo in the area but I’ve yet to hear it. Further down Fairview Read more

This morning at 9:15 am I saw a Great Egret in the Lakefield Marsh, and I also heard a Least Bittern calling. Location: Lakefield Marsh Observer: Tony Bigg

This morning, I spotted a Black Bear on County Road 8 where it meets the Indian River in Douro. Also, that evening on 4th line in the town of Douro, I spotted a large bear and two cubs Location: Douro-Dummer Township Observer: Jamie Austin

A bit of good luck recently at the Lakefield marsh… theTrumpeter Swan we saw May 25th was feeding with the geese today. This time he was close enough to see his tag (J84). I checked the Trumpter Swan Society’s website and found out he’s one of the 10 cygnets hatched Read more

Tonight, at about 7 p.m., we were out feeding the stock and saw an adult Cattle Egret hanging out in one of the pastures with the horses . I didn’t have a camera or even my phone on me so unfortunately I didn’t get a photo. We watched (stalked) it Read more

Here is an interesting trip report from OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologists) to the Carden Alvar, just north of Kirkfield. It is well worth a trip! “The OFO group had excellent and lengthy views of a Loggerhead Shrike near bluebird box 10 on Wylie Road, which was the highlight of the Read more

This morning I heard a Willow Flycatcher calling in the marsh on the west side of Fairbairn Street, north of County Road 19. This has been a very productive marsh this spring with Sora, Virginia Rail, Pied-billed Grebe, Common Gallinule and Northern Shoveler all being reported. Later in the morning Read more