Blog

I heard my first American Toads of the year “trilling” this evening in the west end of Peterborough. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

White Trilliums are now in bloom in many areas including Champlain Heights Woods and Buckhorn. Location: Peterborough and Buckhorn Observer: Aidan Hickie-Bentzen; Andy Curtis

This evening I visited a spot where a heron had been observed starting to nest back in March. At the time there was only one nest observed. Now there are at least 7 nests. Great Blue Herons were seen on Read more

Both Least Bittern and American Bittern were calling in the Lakefield Marsh this morning at 7:30 a.m. The Least Bittern was at 11 o

Today, in Cavan Woods, there were black-and-white warblers, northern waterthrush, black-throated green warblers, and great crested flycatchers. Today I also saw an American redstart. Location: Cavan Observer: Scott McKinlay

I saw an Opossum today dead on the road near the junction of County Road 10 and Highway 115. Location: Millbrook Observer: George Joncas

At dusk tonight, my wandering eye checked the feeders and what should appear comfortably perched in the big pine tree but a mother Black Bear and her little cub. She looked at me, 3 ft. away and quickly unfurled herself, Read more

This morning I saw my first Chimney Swifts of the year (about six) flying above the intersection of Hunter and George in downtown Peterborough. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

Today I saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker on Geraldine Avenue in Peterborough. At the Trent Nature Area on the canal side, there were Spotted sandpiper (1), Fox sparrow (2), Palm warbler (5), Yellow-rumped warbler (10) and Pied-billed grebe (3). They were Read more

At least two and possibly three American Bitterns and two Soras were very vocal at Millers Creek (7th line of Smith-Ennismore, 1 km east of Bridgenorth) this morning (5:45 to 6:15 a.m.). Also a single Virginia Rail was calling from Read more

I saw an Eastern Kingbird this morning at the Trent Wildlife Sanctuary. There were also Palm warblers (3) Whip-poor- will (1 heard), House wren, (1) Winter wren (1), and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1). Location: Trent Wildlife Sanctuary Observer: Luke Berg

Today, there were two Northern Shovelers in the second pond of the Lakefield sewage lagoons, together with many of the regular ducks. There was no sign of the Barrow

We had a few new birds show up this morning in the yard; 2 male Baltimore Orioles, a White-crowned Sparrow in the brushpile, and a Yellow Warbler in lilacs. I mentioned in my last posting about the straggling American Tree Read more

At the Trent Nature Area on the canal side today, I saw Pied-billed grebe (2) – Green heron (2) doing courtship display – Yellow-rumped warbler (15) – Hooded Merganser (1) – Female Ring-necked pheasant (1) – Brown Thrasher (1) – Read more

At 9:30 this morning the male Barrow

Lakefield Sewage Lagoons – Bufflehead (55) – Ring-necked duck (11) – Common goldeneye (16) – Barrow’s goldeneye (1) – Lesser scaup (3) – Greater scaup (6) – Common loon (1) – Greater yellowlegs (1) Location: Lakefield Observer: Luke Berg

On April 25, my parents had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at their bird feeder on University Rd.. Today, across the road from their house, they heard a male Ovenbird on territory. Location: University Road, Peterborough Observer: Peter Burke

On the rail trail north of Trent University yesterday, we had Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, a single Bank Swallow. There were also heavy choruses of Chorus Frog, Spring Peeper, Wood Frog and Northern Leopard Frog. On our return to Read more

This afternoon, I found a male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE at the Lakefield Sewage Ponds in Lakefield. The bird was swimming in the first pond (the one nearest the road) with Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup. To reach the Read more

This morning my son and I observed a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker feeding in the large spruce tree in our front yard on Riverview Heights in the city

The Bloodroot in my garden was in full bloom today, along with Hepatica. Coltsfoot is in full bloom, too, along roadsides throughout the area. Location: Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

A Red-bellied Woodpecker is coming to my feeder near Lasswade, east of Aplsey. Location: Lasswade (County Road 46 at Lasswade Road) Observer: Linda Fierheller

This morning, a Brown Thrasher foraged in the leaf litter in our garden. A few metres away, female Red-bellied Woodpecker fed on suet. This bird has be an irregular visitor to our feeders since Dec 17. Also present is a Read more

A male Purple Finch visited our feeder today. It was the first male of the year. Location: Maple Cres., Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

I don’t if many others still have American Tree Sparrows around their feeders, but today I still have about 10-12 hanging out in the bushpiles and eating crack corn. I thought it was getting rather late for these birds. Also Read more

I saw my first Chipping Sparrow of the year this morning at my feeder. The Fox Sparrow is still present in our yard and singing non-stop. Location: Maple Crescent, Peterborough Observer: Drew Monkman

A quick trip to Little Lake yielded Common Loon – 1 Double-crested Cormorant – 6 (beautiful “double crests” on some of them) Lesser Scaup – 2 Mallard – 4 Bufflehead – 7 Northern Flicker – 2 (at Little Lake Cemetary) Read more