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Drew Monkman

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Sightings

No reports of Giant Swallowtails yet this year – Few Monarch sightings

I have not seen a Giant Swallowtail this year at all. Although I haven’t kept count of Monarchs this year, I did see my first one  on May 29th – my earliest ever – and my second on June 2nd.  Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 16, 2016 ago
Sightings

“Fall” migration already underway as Least Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs return from Arctic nesting grounds

Least Sandpiper (8) Lesser Yellowlegs (3) – Reported Jul 15, 2016 06:20 by Scott Gibson – Peterborough–Fairbairn Street wetland, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Media: Photos

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 16, 2016 ago
Uncategorized

Beautiful Black-crowned Night-Heron near London St. footbridge

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Jul 11, 2016 07:20 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Water St., Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Adult perched on snag overhanging river near W end of London St. footbridge. Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 12, 2016 ago
Sightings

Short-billed Dowitcher at Bensfort Road Landfill

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) (1) – Reported Jul 09, 2016 14:07 by Iain Rayner – Bensfort Road Landfill, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Media: 3 Photos – Comments: “Was doing a dump run earlier in the day and Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 10, 2016 ago
Sightings

An effective way to catch fish!

It has been so interesting over the last few years observing the Osprey along with other parts of nature, and how they are changing as the next generation comes to life. For the last 3 years we have had a Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 8, 2016 ago
Sightings

Stanley, the Ring-billed Gull, is back

Cannot believe it! For 3 years in a row, Stanley, my campsite Ring-billed Gull has returned. He comes when called by name, sits with me on my deck when I read a book, and allows no other gulls on my Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 7, 2016 ago
Sightings

Nesting Piping Plovers at Darlington Provincial Park

MAY 17, 2016: “After a prior absence of 81 years, this is the second consecutive year that a pair of Piping Plovers has initiated nesting on the Canadian shore of Lake Ontario in the Greater Toronto Area. Yesterday, I confirmed Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 6, 2016 ago
Sightings

A family group of crows?

We always have one or two pairs of American Crows around, so nothing special in that. I really don’t know how many constitutes a murder of crows but most unusually this morning (12 June) we had eight on the ground Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 6, 2016 ago
Sightings

Recent sightings of note

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (1) – Reported Jul 03, 2016 09:04 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Hannah Rd – Pond, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Singing N of road” Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (2) – Reported Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJuly 4, 2016 ago
Sightings

The elusive Clay-coloured Sparrow – Learn the song

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (2) – Reported Jun 29, 2016 09:47 by Donald Sutherland – Jones Quarter Line at Bland Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Known location, two-part buzz and three-part buzz”  

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 30, 2016 ago
Sightings

The spectacular Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (1) – Reported Jun 28, 2016 07:51 by Scott Gibson – Peterborough- Jones Quarter Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “observed and singing”

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 29, 2016 ago
Sightings

Sandhill Cranes in Selwyn Township west of Young’s Point

Here is a photo of 2 Sandhill Cranes that I photographed on Saturday, June 18. They were on the west side of Northeys Road between the 13th & 14th lines of Selwyn Township, west of Young’s Point. These are the Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 26, 2016 ago
Sightings

Black Bear and cub at Killarney Provincial Park

I was camping in Killarney Provincial Park southwest of Sudbury last week and took this picture of a Black Bear at the side of the road. It wasn’t until I uploaded the shots to my computer that I spotted her Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 26, 2016 ago
Sightings

Sora rail at Loggerhead Marsh in west end Peterborough

Sora (Porzana carolina) (1) – Reported Jun 25, 2016 06:31 by Paul Frost – Peterborough–Loggerhead Marsh, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Note: A Great Egret was seen at the marsh about two weeks ago. Reported by Philipa Cobb, who Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 26, 2016 ago
Sightings

Great shots of a Spotted Sandpiper

I recently photographed this Spotted Sandpiper feeding along the southern shore of Wolf Island Provincial Park by Black Duck Bay on Lower Buckhorn Lake. Robin Blake  

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 25, 2016 ago
Uncategorized

Chimney Swifts

The Spring 2016 swift watches gave us some really interesting numbers.  The peak was on May 17 when Dan Williams saw 123 enter the roost. A Merlin was seen by several people harassing the swifts and keeping them from getting Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 25, 2016 ago
Columns

NO REASON TO STAY INSIDE: With summer holidays almost here, kids can get out and discover nature

With summer upon us, finding things for kids to do can be a challenge. This week, I’d like to propose a few activities from the new “Big Book of Nature Activities”, which I co-wrote with Jacob Rodenburg of Camp Kawartha. Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 23, 2016 ago
Sightings

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a species more typical of extreme southern Ontario, near Peterborough Airport

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) (1) – Reported Jun 15, 2016 09:10 by Martin Parker – Peterborough–Mervin Line, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “observed. Continuing location”

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 21, 2016 ago
Sightings

Great photos of a nature-rich June weekend on Lower Buckhorn Lake

I went out early both Saturday and Sunday (June 18 and 19, 2016) on Lower Buckhorn lake and took these pictures. Robin Blake

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 21, 2016 ago
Sightings

First Monarch of 2016

Today, June 15, I saw my first Monarch butterfly of the year. It was flying in a field at the corner of County Road 46 and Round Lake Road, north of Havelock. Drew Monkman

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 15, 2016 ago
Sightings

Yellow Flag (Iris) is in bloom

The Yellow Flags are flowering now along the Otonabee River. Gwen Forsyth, Lakefield Note: Yellow Flag is an invasive aquatic species. For more information, click here.

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 15, 2016 ago
Sightings

Viceroy butterfly, a Monarch look-alike, in Havelock

This Viceroy landed on my lawn mower today, June 9. At first I thought it was a Monarch, but I then noticed the black, horizontal line on the hind wings. Ulrike Kullik, Havelock

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 10, 2016 ago
Columns

Exploring Petroglyph Provincial Park: a local treasure of natural beauty just north of Peterborough

With our daughter home for a few days last week, we decided to take advantage of the great weather to do some hiking. Sophie has always had a special fondness for the Canadian Shield, so Petroglyph Provincial Park was the Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 9, 2016 ago
Sightings

Hummingbird-like Gallium Sphinx moths in Lakefield garden

I saw my first “hummingbird” moths this weekend (three on June 4) nectaring at petunias. One was looking very tattered, but still able to fly and feed… Gwen Forsyth, Lakefield Note: The so-called hummingbird moths are in the Sphingidae family Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 7, 2016 ago
Sightings

Exquisite rare Luna moth in Bridgenorth

Sighting date: June 1, 2016 Location: Bridgenorth, Ontario This beautiful female Luna moth was on a piece of plywood where there is some construction going on at the NAPA store in Bridgenorth. I took a couple pictures then moved her Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 6, 2016 ago
Sightings

Recent bird sightings of note

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) (3) – Reported Jun 01, 2016 20:16 by Iain Rayner – Peterborough–Fairbairn Street wetland, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) (1) – Reported Jun 05, 2016 10:58 by Donald Sutherland – Lang-Hastings Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 6, 2016 ago
Sightings

Whooping Crane sighting! …. and two active Bald Eagle nests on Buckhorn Lake

Just an update related to my earlier Whooping Crane sighting.  I met a fellow from the MNR who, on Friday May 20, saw a Whooping Crane spiraling above the Beer Store in Peterborough (two weeks to the day after my Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 4, 2016 ago
Sightings

Common Loon nesting on Otonabee River

There is a Common Loon nesting on the Otonabee River, just south of Lakefield and quite close to shore. I’ve seen her there for the last week or so. Jacob Rodenburg, Peterborough

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 2, 2016 ago
Sightings

40 Cliff Swallows at Trent Rowing Club Footbridge over canal

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) (40) – Reported Jun 01, 2016 07:00 by Andrew Jobes – Peterborough – Trent Rowing Club Footbridge, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist:

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 2, 2016 ago
Sightings

Golden-winged Warblers at Boyd Island

On May 30th, Al Sippel and I were on Boyd Island, a Kawartha Land Trust property located near Bobcaygeon on Pigeon Lake. We had 2 pure Golden-winged Warblers (seen well) & two other presumed Golden-wings (heard only). Warren Dunlop, Peterborough Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsJune 2, 2016 ago

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