Blog

While skiing at Kawartha Golf and Country Club yesterday, I witnessed a city wildlife drama. A hawk (cannot identify) landed on a squirrel nest high in a tree. I could then see a black squirrel flipping and flopping around in Read more

I had a pair of Red-tailed Hawks in my yard this afternoon. Location: Rogers St., Peterborough Observer: Ivan Bateman

I just had 12 Bohemian Waxwings feeding in the crab apple tree. I have also had 6 American Tree Sparrows for the last few days. Location: Tudor Cres. Peterborough Observer: Sue Paradisis

Having enjoyed a “four pecker” morning ( Pileated, Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied), I was relishing a record-species feeder day. Although this was not to be ( 13 species in total), we did enjoy the presence of seven Northern Cardinals at Read more

This afternoon, I had a flock of about 16 Pine Grosbeaks in the spruce trees in my yard. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I was too busy to let you know that I had a visit at the suet from a Northern Flicker on Dec. 24th. I also spotted a Cooper’s Hawk twice that day. Today when I went out my door, I Read more

Nature Sightings at Gannons Narrows…. Lately, it has been a beehive of activity around here. We have Otters year round – they love my neighbours old boathouse as do the Beavers that have their litters under the old dock boards. Read more

A Bald Eagle was trying to take a fish from an Otter on the ice in front of my neighbour’s boat house. The Otter, however, was able to scamper down the hole in the ice with the fish. Location: Gannon’s Read more

This week I spotted a (at least 1) Coyote on my pond in the mornings and afternoons. It was very fearless. There were also crows, raptors (I couldn’t identify), etc. A couple of days ago, I looked at the island Read more

A Barred Owl has been in our neighbourhood since at least early December and frequents a spruce tree in our backyard. We believe he is feasting on the local rabbit, squirrel and possibly stray cat population. Our backyard borders Olympus Read more

At 6 a.m. this morning, when it was still quite dark, Emily and I saw a rainbow around the Moon! There was a kind of “ice fog” in the air, but obviously it was enough, combined with the light of Read more

I saw a Coyote crossing the ice at Gannons Narrows about noon. He stopped by the green channel marker and headed back

Today I had the pleasure of watching a spectacular display of eagle behaviour. An adult Bald Eagle flew into a pine tree in front of our property at Gannon Narrows. It was not sitting comfortly in the tree and we Read more

Today we had the pleasure of watching two dozen Common Redpolls at our feeders. There was also a single White-throated Sparrow in a flock of a dozen juncos. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

A Barred Owl, likely attracted by small mammals, in turn attracted to the bird feeders maintained by the Peterborough Field Naturalists, was seen at noon today, Christmas Eve, near the ‘Bird Feeder Trail’. Little Lake is still more open than Read more

We have a great variety of birds coming to our feeders including redpolls, chickdees, juncos, Blue Jays, doves, Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, nuthatches and siskins. Location: Sharpe Line, 1 km west of the Ida corners near Cavan Read more

Today, I spotted and photographed two Bald Eagles quite a piece off up the lake. I only saw them the one time and recognized them after seeing them in Alaska this past summer. Location: Fife’s Bay, Chemong Lake Observer: Nancy Read more

The 27th Petroglyphs Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 22, 2012. The temperature was around -5 degrees Celsius for most of the day but there were strong winds all day (including early in the morning) and periods of Read more

Luckily, I live on Creekwood Dr., backing on Harper Park in the southwest corner of Peterborough, and have witnessed/enjoyed first hand everything the urban oasis has to offer. I’ve explored much of the area in both winter and summer, although Read more

Today, we had a leucistic American Goldfinch at our feeder. It was entirely pale yellow and looked very similar to a Canary, except for the slim, uncanary-like bill. Location: Cavan, Ontario Observer: Dave Stabler

When I moved to Dummer in 1987, we had Evening Grosbeaks every year. Then, in about 1995, they stopped coming. Yesterday, for the first time since, we had a small flock. They did not stay long but hopefully a good Read more

We have just identified a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder. Location: Cameron Line Observer: Janet Johnstone Doug Latham

There is a Red-necked Grebe on Little Lake. It’s in first winter (formative) plumage, quite dark and round headed. Last seen between Beavermead Beach and the ‘cemetary point’, but not associating with the mergansers or goldeneye. It dives frequently and Read more

The 61st Peterborough Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday December 16th. On a dull wet day, 35 participants found a total of 58 species, the same total as last year and four below our record. Of particular note was Read more

My neighbour got a picture of a Virginia Opossum last night on his trail camera. I saw two this summer in our area as road kill. One was on the Yankee Line, almost at Emily Park. Location: Gannon’s Narrows, Ennismore Read more

Today I saw a Snowy Owl sitting on a dock on the east side of Katchewanooka Lake, just north of Lakefield. It took off as I approached the dock. Location: East side of Katchewanooka, on a property on Moodie Drive Read more

We just had a pair of Bald Eagles fly by the west end of Fothergill Isle this morning. Location: Fothergill Isle on Pigeon Lake at Gannon’s Narrows Observer: Rose Rogers

This evening, a Red Fox, likely the one that dens near TASSS, was ‘howling/yipping’ up a storm in the dark and con’td even when I approached closely. This is an unnerving sound and not exactly musical. I’m wondering though, if Read more