I saw a small group (6) of Rusty Blackbirds on the Baseline to Settlers rail trail this morning. Other birds of interest seen were Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-headed Vireos (3), Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Green-winged Teal, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Six species of butterly were still around – Read more
Today I heard a Song Sparrow singing repeatedly along the Trans-Canada trail, west of Jackson Park. On Oct. 8, I had a late Monarch, along with two Merlins (calling repeatedly) at Munroe Island on Stony Lake. Location: Jackson Park, Peterborough; Stony Lake Observer: Drew Monkman
The first Dark-eyed Junco of the fall showed up in our yard today. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman
We have been cottaging on Salmon Lake in the Kawarthas for over 50 years . This is the first summer we have not had bats swooping over the lake at sunset. Having spoken to a number of people on the lake, I know the absence is widespread. (Note: There is Read more
Whilst walking my dog today in the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary I saw more birds, except perhaps for large flocks of blackbirds flying over, than I have ever seen there before. The open area, where the swallow nest boxes are, had warblers everywhere, especially along the west and southern sides. I Read more
Large numbers of White-throated Sparrows finally arrived in our yard today, not doubt as a result of the cold front that moved in. There has also been a lot of Turkey Vulture migration this weekend, too, and lots of Golden-crowned Kinglets moving through. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman
Today, at about 4:15 p.m. I was watching a group of 23 Turkey Vultures that were circling quite low in the strong winds, when an odd-looking hawk suddenly joined them. Quickly it was easy to see that it was a first year light morph Swainson`s Hawk, with pointed wing tips, Read more
Today, we saw a Giant Swallowtail as it flew down Preston Road, stopping a couple of times on sapling foliage, before finally flying north of the one-lane bridge and up the river out of site. Location: Crowe River at Preston Road and Fish Hatchery Road, east of Cordova Mines, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Read more
We have had at least one Giant Swallowtail around our place (near Stewart Hall) for at least two weeks. They traverse the west facing edge of our maple bush edge and lite in sunny patches of low shrubs and trees as well as feeding (?) on fragrant white phlox, yellow Read more
At about 7:45 p.m. this evening, we too had a visit from a Giant Swallowtail in our front yard at 51 Maple Crescent in the west end of Peterborough. I saw a second one on August 29 near Lily Lake on the rail-trail. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman
Today, at the boat launch off the far east end of Round Lake Road, I watched a Giant Swallowtail flitting about and occasionally landing on leaves, for about a minute, before it disappeared into a farm field across the road. Location: Round Lake, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Twsp Observer: Tim Dyson
These last few days I have watched as jet-black, 1 and 1/4 inch Great Black Wasps (Sphex pensylvanicus) have been depositing dead or paralysed Praying Mantis into the skimmer box of my pool. So far, they have put more than a dozen mantis in the skimmer, entering by small holes Read more
We have six Green Herons roosting in trees behind our property. I’ve never seen them hang around so much and so visibly. Location: Peterborough Observer: Brenda Ibey
Last night we wandered past our pond and were able to get a good look at three Green Herons. We see them flying over, but not often this close, hopping around in the trees. I think there are one adult and four or five young. The one at least looked Read more
On the drive into work this morning 7:30 am spotted three Sandhill Cranes in the field at the corner of Smith 14th concession and Birchbend Rd. near Upper Chemong Lake. Location: Upper Chemong Lake Observer: Fred Irons
We saw another Indigo Bunting this evening while walking the dog along the road directly south of the airport (Moncrief Line). It was sitting on a wire above the bridge, vocalizing its dual-noted song. Sherry Hambly Location: Moncrief Line Observer: Sherry Hambly
I saw a singing male Blue-grey Gnatcatcher on May 10 on River Rd (between Hope Mill Rd and David Fife Line) in Otonabee Township. I haven’t seen one this far north before and was wondering if they are regularly seen in the County. (Note: Gnatcatchers are in fact quite rare Read more
I heard this very different bird call today..never heard it before. It was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. It was in my backyard here in Kawartha Hideway, north shore of Buckhorn Lake. Is this a rare sighting? (Note: Yellow-billed Cuckoo is certainly far less common than Black-billed in Peterborough Co. and might Read more
Today at 7 a.m., there was a Blackpoll Warbler singing in the John Street vicinity in the Avenues area of the downtown. Location: downtown Peterborough Observer: Don Sutherland
Sitting on the deck at the Silver Bean Cafe at Millenium Place in downtown Peterborough this morning, we enjoyed great Fair Trade coffee, along with the calls of Osprey, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern Kingbird, Chimney Swift, Barn Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, and Song Sparrow. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Read more
During a three-day stay at Camp Kawartha, I observed the following species of interest: Eastern Towhee, Blackpoll Warbler (late migrant), Magnolia Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Field Sparrow, and Barred Owl. There were also many Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies flying, along with thousands of Common Baskettail dragonflies. Some of the Read more
This evening, a Common Nighthawk flew over a friend’s house in the west end of Peterborough. This is the first nighthawk I’ve seen in Peterborough this year. Location: Westbrook Drive Observer: Drew Monkman
We often walk our dog on the Hooten Road portion of Cavan swamp and this year I have discovered two hairy woodpecker nests along the road – both within 10 to 30 feet of the road – one in a dead aspen, the other in a dead tree (not sure Read more
I walked a favourite small section of road in Duoro-Dummer Tsp today and counted 227 blooms of Northern Small Yellow Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin), The Showy Lady
Today, we spotted a Gray Catbird in our backyard, a species we had not seen before. Then on June 2 we several times heard a cry that sounded like a cat meowing very loudly. We didn
Last night Peter Lin and I watched the Chimney Swifts enter their roost in the white brick chimney on the building to the east of WildRock and visibile from the laneway behind their store (just south of Charlotte Street). Starting at around 8 pm the number of swifts flying overhead Read more
Yesterday, in our back yard, we had an Eastern Towhee, and then today in the same location, we had a male Black-throated Blue Warbler. Location: Peterborough Observer: Don Finigan
Two Sandhill Cranes were seen this morning at Miller Creek Conservation Area during the PFN Sunday Morning bird walk. The birds were 100 feet straight out from the viewing tower, about two-thirds of the way between the tower and the patch of open water. One of the birds appeared to Read more
I saw the strangest thing last week. Well, strange for the 7th line of Smith. I was driving along about 1km from the Miller Creek CA and had to break for an Otter. He was crossing from a marshy area to the woods. I have lived there and walked my Read more