Blog

  On September 12, an uncommon Four-toed Salamander was found near the large erratic on the “range” section of our property  (east of Birchview Road) at Camp Kawartha.  It was found by students from Lakefield College School and identified by Read more…

Today’s cool 13 C temperatures seem to have really stirred up bird migration and feeder activity. This morning I had two dozen Common Grackles at my feeder. This afternoon, while walking the Trans-Canada Trail near Lily Lake, there were at Read more…

– Peregrine Falcon – Magnolia Warbler  – Bay-breasted Warbler Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (1) – Reported Sep 11, 2013 08:15 by Greg Samson-Strecker – Peterborough–Trent Rotary Rail Trail, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.362531,-78.2885554&ll=44.362531,-78.2885554 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15166063 – Comments: “Flew SSW Read more…

Yesterday, I was provided with an intriguing glimpse into the lives of ants. So-called “flying ants” were milling about on our front steps and flying  overhead in the backyard. Ants only have wings during the mating phase of their life Read more…

We were out in our backyard yesterday watching the three Sandhill Cranes when we heard another crane calling from just beyond. It definitely didn’t come from any of the three in front of us. Their beaks were closed and they Read more…

Origin of fish species found in Jack Lake, Peterborough County (south of Apsley) Native Species Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) Brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) Common white sucker (Catastomus commersoni) Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) Golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Johnny darter (Etheostoma nigrum) Read more…

Yesterday afternoon, a Giant Swallowtail visited our backyard garden.  This was the first time I’ve seen the species actually nectaring in the garden. I’ve had them land on one of our maple trees before. The butterfly fed by hovering at Read more…

*** Species Summary: – Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1 report) – Least Flycatcher (2 reports) – Great Crested Flycatcher (2 reports) – Orange-crowned Warbler (1 report) – Bobolink (4 reports) ——————————————— The report below shows observations of rare birds in Peterborough.  View Read more…

Just thought that you would like to know that the three Sandhill Cranes are still here, adjacent to the Miller Creek Conservation Area on the 7th Line of Selwyn Township. In previous years they were gone by the end of Read more…

  Walking the rail-trail in the Lily Lake area the other day, I couldn’t help notice how quickly the asters are taking over as the dominant wildflowers on the landscape. Already, some of the goldenrods – which still provide most Read more…

I live on a farm in Omemee, near Emily Park. Growing up in this area, I have observed a lot of nature. However, in just the last few weeks I seem to have seen more variety that I have ever Read more…

Yesterday, I set up a new birdbath in my backyard. Instead of using the pedestal,  I placed the bowl directly on the ground, partly beneath some cedars. I then installed a 1/4″ diameter plastic tube above the bath, hooking the Read more…

Semipalmated Plover – Lesser Yellowlegs – Least Sandpiper – Baird’s Sandpiper – Pectoral Sandpiper – Philadelphia Vireo – Tennessee Warbler – Cape May Warbler – Magnolia Warbler – Bay-breasted Warbler – Lincoln’s Sparrow ____________________________________________________ Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) (2) – Read more…

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of talking with Don Davis who does a Monarch butterfly tagging demonstration each Labour Day Weekend at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. With a lot of hard work, he was able to find enough of Read more…

I stumbled upon this plant in the bush north of Highway 118 near Bancroft today.  At first, I thought it was a blackberry “on steroids” but, by doing a little research, I found out that it is a Spikenard.  I Read more…

*** Species Summary: – Tennessee Warbler (2 reports) – Magnolia Warbler (2 reports) – Bay-breasted Warbler (2 reports) – Black-throated Blue Warbler (2 reports) ——————————————— The report below shows observations of species you have not seen in Peterborough, based on Read more…

What a nice surprise to find this Giant Swallowtail in our garden this afternoon.  This one one would not settle down though.  The forewings hardly ever stopped beating. I took lots of images just to get these.       Read more…

Here is a quick description of some common backyard insect sounds of rural, suburban and sometimes urban central Ontario.  By clicking on the name of the insect, you can hear a recording of its “song.” How are the sounds produced? Read more…

This afternoon, I walked the Trans-Canada Trail west from the steep footpath leading down to the trail from the end of Wallis Drive, past the  blue bridge to Ackison Road. A number of wildflowers continue to bloom and most of Read more…

– Peregrine Falcon (1 report) – Western Kingbird (1 report) ——————————————— Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> Needs Alert for Peterborough. The report below shows observations of species you have not seen in Peterborough, based on your eBird observations.  Read more…

This afternoon, I walked the Trans-Canada Trail west from the steep footpath leading down to the trail from the end of Wallis Drive, past the  blue bridge (near the pumping station entrance point on Parkhill Road at Ravenwood) to Ackison Read more…

This afternoon, two Monarch butterflies were feeding on the Butterfly Bush blossoms (Buddlia) in my garden. Later, a Great Spangled Fritillary showed up, as well. Drew Monkman, Maple Cres., Peterborough

I was able to photograph this female or young male dragonfly yesterday in the garden of a neighbour’s house on Amundsen Ave. The owner of this house is a real gardener and this dragonfly was resting on a lovely orange Read more…

Walking to the forest on Saturday (August 24), I saw this late Monarch caterpillar instar as well as an empty chrysalis attached to a stem of grass. Hope these are good signs and not simply mementos of this lovely creature. Read more…

Sitting outside in our backyard on Friday evening (Aug. 23), I heard my first nocturnal flight calls of the “fall migration” as migrants were streaming southward overhead. I am not able to identify the birds to the species level – Read more…

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (1) – Reported Aug 24, 2013 08:48 by Chris Risley – Peterborough–Meadowvale Park, Peterborough, Ontario – Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=44.3342704,-78.3128536&ll=44.3342704,-78.3128536 – Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15001488 – Comments: “adult, standing on log in marsh (edge of river) next to willows”