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Drew Monkman

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Blog

Sightings

Spectacular photograph of a Northern Saw-whet

I have been on the look-out for an owl all winter. Finally got one on March 24. This Northern Saw-whet Owl was sunning himself on a low branch on the edge of the ditch. Kelly Simmonds, Moore Drive, Cavan  

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 15, 2014 ago
Sightings

Eastern Towhee and Vesper Sparrow are much-welcomed arrivals

  Eastern Towhee – Reported Apr 13, 2014 12:30 by Donald Sutherland – Cottesloe–3.2 km ENE on Webster Rd, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “flushed from roadside, flew N into cover on N side road. Medium-sized passerine Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 15, 2014 ago
Sightings

An eight sparrow morning… and lots more!

Spending the morning birding, I found eight species of sparrow – Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American Tree Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow (all in my garden), Swamp Sparrow, Fox Sparrow (both Lynch’s Rock Rd), Savannah Sparrow (Douro 3rd Line south of Cedar Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 14, 2014 ago
Sightings

American Kestrel a welcome sight

We were delighted to see the return of our local American Kestrel this weekend, on 14th Line of Smith. Nima Taghaboni

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 14, 2014 ago
Sightings

Chorus Frogs and first turtle

  Yesterday afternoon (April 13th) I heard Chorus Frogs calling at two locations on Division Rd: <10 calling from the cattail-shrub thicket-maple swamp around 500 m east of Blezard Line; and about the same number in the flooded maple floodplain Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 14, 2014 ago
Sightings

Amphibian Bonanza

Last night I went out with my dad and Dave Milsom to see what amphibians we could find on the roads (Birchview and Camp Line specifically) just north of Lakefield. The vast majority of the amphibians were on Birchview Road Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 14, 2014 ago
Sightings

Golden Eagle on Old Norwood Road

Golden Eagle  – Reported Apr 13, 2014 12:25 by Iain Rayner – Ptbo – Old Norwood Rd & Sweeney Ln, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Seen just ahead of car above trees as I came over a Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 13, 2014 ago
Sightings

A new gull passing through and a new sparrow arrival

Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) (4) – Reported Apr 11, 2014 12:20 by Peterborough County Birds Database – Peterborough–Little Lake, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “basic adults with just the faintest hint of hood development on the nape, Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

American Bittern is back

American Bittern  – Reported Apr 13, 2014 10:35 by Scott Gibson – Smith – 7th Line (b/w Cty 23 and Centre Line), Peterborough, Ontario – Map  – Checklist – Comments: “stopped to show kids the HAWO in tree beside marsh Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 13, 2014 ago
Sightings

American Kestrel in nesting box on Tara Road – Who put up the box?

While driving north on Tara Road in Ennismore I noticed an American Kestrel flying across the road. It flew to and entered a bird house attached high on a phone pole. I was amazed he could fit through the hole Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 12, 2014 ago
Sightings

Ospreys settling in for another nesting season

These two Osprey are back at Selwyn Road and County Road 18. Jeff Keller

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

Snowdrops in bloom; first tulip leaves

On my walk today, I noticed Snowdrops in bloom for the first time this year. The first tulip leaves are also emerging. Very noticeable swelling of the flower buds on Silver Maples and Trembling Aspen, too. Drew Monkman

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

My first butterfly of spring

Today, at noon (10 C and sunny) there was a Mourning Cloak butterfly in our backyard, basking on the pedestal of the birdbath. This species overwinters as an adult and obviously withstood many nights of -30 C and probably colder! Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

The annual spring frog chorus begins!

I heard my first Spring Peeper this evening in the woods near my house. There was just one. Scott McKinlay           To add to Scott’s post, I heard Chorus Frogs on Thompson Creek, south of Trent Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 12, 2014 ago
Sightings

How things have changed quickly this spring!

I’ve been away for a week and my how things have changed. A Fox Sparrow was in the garden this morning. The Ospreys are back at the nest at the corner of Emerald Isle and Herrington Line. American Tree Sparrows Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 11, 2014 ago
Sightings

A much anticipated and beautiful spring migrant – the Fox Sparrow

All week (since April 8) we’ve had about half a dozen Fox Sparrows outside our window, cleaning up bird seed from the winter feeders. They’re beautifully marked and fun to watch as they scrabble in the leaves under the cedar Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Columns

Watching woodcock: Many area residents don’t know this amazing bird even exists

With monikers such as pop-eyed shot dodger, bogsucker, sky dancer and timberdoodle, the American Woodcock may have the most evocative nicknames of any bird. This game specie’s  real claim to fame, however, is its spring courtship flight, in which males Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

Resident pair of Sandhill Cranes has returned to Ennismore area

At 10:15 am this morning (April 9), I saw two Sandhill Cranes fly over the Narrows. Looks like our resident pair are back. Jim Watt, Gannon Narrows

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 10, 2014 ago
Sightings

A new duck arrival: the Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal  (2) – Reported Apr 06, 2014 08:45 by Matthew Tobey – Drive from Peterborough to Lakefield, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: – Checklist: – Comments: “Pair near Lakefield.” Blue-winged Teal  (1) – Reported Apr 09, 2014 19:45 by Matthew Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 10, 2014 ago
Sightings

Belted Kingfisher on 7th Line of Smith

  I saw this female Belted Kingfisher at about 7:15 pm this evening on the 7th line of Smith.I got a couple of pictures before the second one chased her away! Jeff Keller

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 8, 2014 ago
Sightings

Huge flock of blackbirds in west end of Peterborough

This evening, April 8, I saw a huge flock of blackbirds (75% grackles, 10% starlings and 15% Red-winged Blackbirds) perched in a Carolina Poplar near Wallis Dr. and Parkhill Rd. that must have numbered 500 birds.

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

Hundreds of Tree Swallows at Millenium Park

Today, at noon, there were hundreds of Tree Swallows flying around the pine trees at the entrance to Millenium Park on Water Street. They appeared to be feeding on something – possibly midges? Eric Monkman (Note: I also heard that Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 8, 2014 ago
Sightings

Night of the giant mammals

Reporting a sighting from last night of 3 otters together on the far shore of the river ice behind my house just north of Omemee! They were playing, and rolling around with one another, and just carrying on for ages, Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

Some sightings to share from a beautiful Sunday, April 6 – including first Common Loon

  a Great Blue Heron triumphant on one of the largest goose-rocks on the west bank of the Otonobee, from River Road. a pair of American Kestrels active over the adjacent field and on the wires south of the lower Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 7, 2014 ago
Sightings

At Little Lake and even downtown Peterborough, the migration show continues

At Little Lake today, there were Great Blue Herons, Merlins, 3 Horned Grebes, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye and Buffleheads.  Ken Rumble There was a large flock of Tree Swallows flying over the intersection Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 years ago
Sightings

Golden-crowned Kinglets join the migrant parade

Sitting outside this morning, we saw and heard: Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown-headed Cowbird, Song Sparrows, and a Merlin, in and amongst the goldfinches, robins, cardinals and juncos. Lovely to have some spring weather! Erin McGauley, Peterborough

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 7, 2014 ago
Sightings

A big welcome back to our Sandhill Cranes

Yesterday, April 6, saw Sandhill Cranes return to at least two parts of the Kawarthas. Susan Blayney had a pair fly over her house near Fenlon Falls. Mary MacFarlane of Mathers Corners saw and heard a pair near her family’s Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 7, 2014 ago
Sightings

A very successful Ontario Field Ornithologists field trip on Sunday, April 6

20 birders enjoyed a beautiful Spring day’s birding in the Peterborough and Cobourg areas on April 6. A group total of 79 species included several highlights : A Greater White-fronted Goose + 10 Cackling Geese at Garden Hill Pond north Read more

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 7, 2014 ago
Sightings

Song Sparrow’s song finally rings out

One of my favourite bird songs, the Song Sparrow’s voice finally joined the neighbourood bird chorus this morning. This species was late returning this year,but can you blame it? Drew Monkman

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 6, 2014 ago
Sightings

Ring-necked Ducks – one of our most beautiful waterfowl

Here are two photos of Ring-necked Ducks on the Otonabee River yesterday morning. Jeff Keller

By Drew Monkman, 11 yearsApril 6, 2014 ago

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