Blog

This afternoon I walked the Trans-Canada Trail from the blue bridge (near the pumping station entrance point on Parkhill Road at Ravenwood) almost to Ackison Road. A great number of wildflowers are in bloom right now. Although most are non-native, Read more…

I am writing because I realized the other morning that I have not heard one of my favorite sounds this spring, the flute-like call of the Wood Thrush  in our woods. It has been part of our spring/summer experience for Read more…

  My wife, Nancy, caught this scene on the morning of June 9 as she was picking flowers in our meadow garden at our cottage on Mississagua Lake. Observer: John Ronson, Mississauga Lake (Note: This is a Goldenrod Crab Spider Read more…

These Red Fox cubs have been providing entertainment for some Ennismore residents this spring.  Four were around for some time, while the 5th one just showed up on June 9th. The pictures were taken by a trail camera. Red Foxes Read more…

Bald Eagles are nesting across from St. Peter’s on-the-Rock church near Collin’s Island on Stony Lake. The pictures were taken by Jeff Jones the week of June 3rd and by Rob Welsh on June 12.  From the Jone’s photo, there Read more…

Last Friday was the first day that I noticed any Snapping Turtles  laying eggs with just one showing up.  Today, there were up to at least 5 in my front and backyard area and they showed up late (mid-morning) and Read more…

While driving in the University Road area on Sunday around 5:30 pm, we saw a Great Egret fly overhead.  We have not seen one before so this was exciting for us!  We also noticed the wetland off University Road is Read more…

This little Gray Treefrog was on my deck in a broken clay pot this morning. He is only about one inch long. What a cute little thing! Observer: Kim Mitchell, Ennismore

I thought I heard an American Redstart in our lane this morning (May 29th) after walking my son to the bus.  I pished and for the first time it worked!  He flew right down to within 10 feet of me Read more…

This afternoon I walked the Trans-Canada Trail from the blue bridge (near the pumping station entrance point on Parkhill Road at Ravenwood) to Ackison Road. A great number of shrubs are in bloom right now – almost all with white Read more…

Today on Nichol’s Cove Road I had four Golden-winged Warblers. Three were males all singing the typical Golden-winged song and the forth was a female associating with one of the males. The Brewster’s Warbler that I saw last week was Read more…

I came across these two moths in my dogwood bush tonight (in Peterborough suburbs).  Some Internet searches  helped me identify them  as Cecropia moths. They are quite large and were motionless for a long time…I’m no expert but I believe Read more…

Browning of the tips of the leaves on Eastern White Cedars is once again very noticeable  in the Kawarthas.  According to Taylor Scarr, provincial forest entomologist at MNR, the “browning” is the result of coincident attack by several of the Read more…

I saw my first Canadian Tiger Swallowtail of the year today. I also read a report that two Giant Swallowtail butterflies have already been seen in Eastern Ontario (Ted Mosquin). Observer: Drew Monkman

I saw the first fireflies of the year last night. Observer: Kim Clark – Bethany

The University Road Wetland continues to get shallower producing more shorebird habitat. This evening, in with the Sanderlings, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plovers, and Spotted Sandpipers, there were at least 1 White-rumped Sandpiper and the highlight of the evening, a Read more…

While cutting my lawn this evening I found a large Blanding’s Turtle walking across the lawn to get to my neighbours on Hazel Crescent (off Campbelltown Road) OSM Twp.  Got some nice pictures.  Huge shell at almost 11” long. It Read more…

This evening, a Polyphemus moth appeared on our livingroom window. We live on County Road 6, Lakefield. I was able to get a picture of it. Observer: Sabine Overink (Note: This is one of the giant silkworm moths. It is Read more…

Source: eBirds A Peregrine Falcon was seen at 7:30 this morning on Water Street. “It flew by… a really big stocky falcon with pointed wings…banked, reversed direction and landed on the George Street United Church spire at McDonnel and Water Read more…

This morning, while walking my dogs at the Harold Town Conservation Area (Old Norwood Road, east of Peterborough), the highlights were: Purple Finch carrying food possibly (nesting?), Alder Flycatcher calling, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher heard and photographed, 4 Bobolinks and 9 Field Read more…

The Peterborough Field Naturalists were well represented in this year’s Carden Challenge, a birding and biodiversity competition in the Carden Alvar, northwest of Lindsay.  It is also a major fund-raiser for the Couchiching Conservancy, a land trust.  Over $22,000 was Read more…

Diane Ferguson saw a rare Varied Thrush early this evening at her Jack Lake cottage. The location of the cottage is Con. 16, Lot  11, North Kawartha , Fire Route 896, # 142.  Diane is a birder. (Note: The Varied Read more…

We live in Cottesloe (Webster Road and 4th Line Dummer) and two days ago our neighbour called to say there was an unusual snake in her garden. She is not a snake person so I went over to find a Read more…

This evening at about 8:25 there was a Common Nighthawk circling over the University Road Wetland which is almost completely dried up which I have never seen before. The only shorebirds present were about 10 Killdeer but it looks like Read more…

I just got back from walking my dogs on the Trans-Canada Trail this evening off Lily lake Road where I saw a cougar come out of the woods, briefly run along the trail and then head off the trail away Read more…