This River Otter (female, I think) sat on the ice in front of our place yesterday afternoon (December 2) and this morning. She ate almost constantly and moved around from hole to hole. The first picture isn’t very clear but I included it because of what she was eating. I’m Read more…
It finally happened. We had 36 baby Snapping Turtles, emerging over 5 days plus 8 eggs that didn’t hatch. On October 8, 12 hatched, the next day one hatched, on October 10, 20 emerged, the next day 3 more and finally on October 12, just 2 more. The last five Read more…
I saw this spider on one of our shrubs in the flower garden. I’ve never seen one like this before and wondered if you had? Wayne Stovell, Cavan Note: The spider in question is a Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia). It’s a fairly common spider of late summer. It makes Read more…
We’re wondering what has happened to the pair of Baltimore orioles and hummingbirds that we were providing food for and have suddenly disappeared. Both bird species arrived at our home on the lake in Bridgenorth on or about May 15 as usual. Since then we have kept sugar water in Read more…
I took a photo of this spider tonight, June 27, before bed. It’s bigger than a toonie for sure and the biggest spider since my cottage days and dock spiders. Any thoughts? Wayne Stovell, Cavan Note: I believe it’s a species of fishing spider (Dolomedes). D.M. My neighbour who lives Read more…
On May 28, I also saw this Eastern Milksnake on the west day use trail at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. It was in the section just before the small bridge that spans the creek between the marshes. I had never seen one of these snakes before, and it was a very Read more…
On April 30th, looking out the main floor windows, Peter spied a large bird flapping its wings far up into our huge White Pine which is about 120 feet from the river and a similar distance from the house. If it hadn’t flapped its wings we would never have known Read more…
Today (March 20) at about 3:45 pm there was a Snow Goose among the Canada Geese on the edge of the Otonabee on Water Street near Langton Street. Carl Welbourn On March 19 at Little Lake Cemetery I saw a female Merlin grooming herself. (Carl Welbourn)
On February 3, I came across a small flock of Pine Grosbeaks feeding on ash keys. They were on Douro 9th Line just north of Hwy 7. Carl Welbourn Female Pine Grosbeaks feeding on ash keys (Carl Welbourn)
Today, January 31, I saw 10 Trumpeter Swans off of the beach in Lakefield. Three were immatures. Guy Hanchet, Lakefield A female Northern Flicker was at our suet feeder twice this morning, Jan 22. Jim Cashmore, Claudette Court, Peterborough Just like every year for the past 15 years, the Mallard Read more…
I’d like to share a wonderful experience I had with bird visitors to my backyard on December 17. Sitting in my living room which faces south, I was aware of a lot of activity in the trees. I went to the windows and was treated to the sight of dozens Read more…
I came across this native Beetberry plant (Blitum capitatum) on November 14 while hiking in the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve on Stoney Lake. Bet Curry On November 8, I saw 16 Sandhill Cranes fly over Oakwood, ON. Gavin Hunter On November 9, we had a visit at our feeder from a Read more…
I was excited to see a flock of Evening Grosbeaks at our feeders this morning, October 29, in Selwyn. They didn’t visit here at all last winter and they’ve been here a couple of times in the last week. I hope they make return visits. I caught a few images of Read more…
While walking in Burnham Woods this morning, September 3, I came across this striking fungus called Blushing Rosette, abortiporus biennia. The sun was hitting it and the “guttation” drops sparkled like rubies. Sue Paradisis We thought you might like this picture of a cute, baby Eastern Hog-nosed Snake that we Read more…
I discovered this account about foxes with mange in the Beeton/Innisfil area of Ontario. It was written by someone who works at an animal rehab center called Procyon Wildlife. The centre has seen many cases of mange in foxes in 2021. I have provided the link below for your information.https://www.procyonwildlife.com/2022/01/24/incredible-lives-of-foxes/ Read more…
I see a Jinny Clark in 2014 commented about squirrels licking her rocks but they took them.As far as I know my squirrel(s) are not taking the rocks but they move them all over the patio and yard. The white decorative rocks are located right outside a large 3 window Read more…
I thought I’d share that I saw a number of Yellow Lady’s Slipper orchids just north of the London Street bridge on the east bank, close to “the island”. The photos are from June 1. Sylvia Dee On my walk last night, June 10, I came across a Jack-in-the-pulpit and Read more…
Today, May 24, we saw our first Monarch of the spring. Very exciting! Scott Sargent On May 23, I spotted this beautiful Monarch in Peterborough. Carley Wilson On May 9, we had male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and our first Baltimore Oriole in our backyard in Peterborough. (Trudy Gibson) On May 5 Read more…
On April 25 on McCrea Drive in Peterborough, I was awakened by the calls of two Whip-poor-wills. One was near our backyard and the other was off in the distance. I was very surprised because as a youngster at the cottage we went to sleep every night to the sound Read more…
Here are a few pictures of our Fisher. We’ve been seeing a Fisher on our cameras for three years now, and I’m assuming it’s the same one. I don’t know a lot about them, but I suspect this is a female since it seems to be staying around. We see Read more…
On February 7, we had a juvenile Northern Goshawk in our backyard. My wife saw it first, and we watched totally mesmerized. It appeared to have just killed a squirrel. I’m a birdwatcher and I get a lot of different bird species. We have feeders set up. I’m sure I Read more…
At our cottage on Crowe Lake, we’ve been watching our annual convention of Trumpeter Swans. After I took this video there was quite the flurry of activity. We are so fortunate to be able to enjoy this part of nature. Maxine Prentice, Peterborough Update from Maxine: The swans return each Read more…
We live at the 12th Line and Northey’s Road in Selwyn. This Red-bellied Woodpecker has been here for the past week. Not the best picture (taken December 3). Paul Vigneux I had a productive day (December 6) at the Peterborough Airport. Most of these birds were photographed along Moncrief Line. Read more…
Check out August sightings for Brian Asmunt’s encounter with an Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. Here are a couple of shots of my first Snow Bunting of the year. I saw it at the Omemee marsh on November 1. Driving on the River Road just south of Lakefield on November 4, we Read more…
I thought you might be interested and surprised (as I was) to know that I heard at least one Chorus Frog calling both yesterday afternoon and evening (October 20) from a wet meadow on the 7th Line Smith near our house. We always have quite a few Chorus Frogs calling Read more…
On September 27, while walking on the 3rd hole of the Kawartha Golf and Country Club, I spotted two Giant Puffballs in the little strip of woods just west of the green. They were at least 10 inches in diameter, in perfect stage of ripeness. I was tempted to gather Read more…
This morning, August 30, while entering the Indian River at the Piggery for our ritual early morning swim, we noticed a heron-like bird on a branch close by. The sun was behind it so we only saw its silhouette. When it took off, however, we were surprised to see that Read more…
I witnessed a very interesting encounter yesterday, July 20, between Common Loons and a Bald Eagle and, although it was not in the Kawarthas, I thought you might like to hear about it. My in-laws own a cottage on Papineau Lake, north of Bancroft, and my family spent the last Read more…
A friend of mine saw an American White Pelican on Sturgeon Lake at Sandy Point on June 25. Phillip McKeating Some recent photos of an Eastern Kingbird and a Black-billed Cuckoo near Campbellford. Donald Munro Patricia and I have been puzzled about the Black Walnut trees around our house and Read more…
Each night I awake about 1:00 a.m. In my easy chair, I observe flashes of white on the front deck. These are two or more flying squirrels at play. If I turn on the light, they do not move much and I interrupt their game. A friend asked me if Read more…