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Drew Monkman

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Butterflies

Columns

The joy of butterfly watching

July is a great time to get to know these beautiful insects. My special affection for butterflies began as a classroom teacher. Each September, I would collect monarch caterpillars for my students to raise. They would watch and document each stage of metamorphosis with rapt attention. We were often able Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 4 yearsJuly 12, 2019 ago
Sightings

Moths, butterflies and a milksnake near Warsaw

We have a sweet smelling Abelia shrub that is proving to be very popular with the insect population. Visitors this month include our first and so far only Monarch, a Black Swallowtail, a White Admiral, and two hawkmoths, including the Hummingbird Clearwing and the Nessus Sphinx, the latter new to Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 6 yearsJune 24, 2017 ago
Sightings

Giant Swallowtail at Curve Lake

I got a picture of this Giant Swallowtail butterfly today (August 1, 2016)), a species I had never seen before. So again, something unusual has popped up at Curve Lake!  I did some reading and these butterflies are moving northward. Reports thus far say that they are now found at Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsAugust 2, 2016 ago
Sightings

First Giant Swallowtails of the summer

I saw my first Giant Swallowtail of the year in the garden today, hovering around the phlox. I checked the dill plantation but there were no larvae. No Monarchs have been seen. Bill Snowden, Ennismore Note: I saw my first Giant Swallowtail today, too, just east of Havelock.  Giant Swallowtails Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsJuly 29, 2016 ago
Sightings

Great photos of a nature-rich June weekend on Lower Buckhorn Lake

I went out early both Saturday and Sunday (June 18 and 19, 2016) on Lower Buckhorn lake and took these pictures. Robin Blake

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsJune 21, 2016 ago
Columns

INSECT-WATCHING FOR ALL: People of all ages are captivated by butterflies, moths and dragonflies

The Kawarthas is home to at least 100 species of butterflies, 135 kinds of dragonflies and damselflies and a thousand or more different moths. Learning to identify the more common species is a great way to connect to the natural world around us and get kids interested in nature. Butterflies Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsMay 19, 2016 ago
Sightings

Butterfly-watching in northern Peterborough County

About two weeks ago, in the northeastern part of Peterborough County, I saw the following species. APRIL 14: Hubble Road – 3 Eastern Comma butterflies; Sandy Lake Road – 1 Eastern Comma and 1 Mourning Cloak. APRIL 15: Charlie Allan Road – 6 Compton Tortiseshell;  Galway/Cavendish Forest Access Road – Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsApril 26, 2016 ago
Sightings

Some sightings of late

We returned to our home on Dodworth Island on Stony Lake on Monday and immediately filled the four feeders. The activity is the most ever….We have 10 usual species but two things stand out. There are no Common Redpolls, but we have over 50 Pine Siskins. At least one Osprey Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 7 yearsApril 8, 2016 ago
Sightings

June’s impressive butterfly diversity

While doing volunteer work for the Kawartha Land Trust today (June 7), west of Pontypool, I saw a Silver-bordered Fritillary, a couple of duskywings, a Little Wood Satyr, a Common Ringlet and a Question Mark.  Michael Gillespie, Keene On Friday June 5th Colin Jones and I saw a fresh Giant Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsJune 8, 2015 ago
Sightings

Giant Swallowtails right on time … and first Monarch of the year, too!

On May 30th, on my way to Stoney Lake, I saw my first Giant Swallowtail of the season as it flew across the road in front of me on County Rd #46 between Round Lake Rd, and Church Rd north of Havelock. Seems to be right on time for first Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsJune 1, 2015 ago
Sightings

Butterfly diversity and numbers increase as June approaches – 21 species today seen in southern Peterborough County

There was a large increase in the number of butterfly species today (May 26).  Jerry Ball and I walked the Trans-Canada Trail from County Rd 38 to Blezard Line and saw 21 species as follows; Clouded Sulphur 43, Silvery Blue 69, Red Admiral 6, Dreamy Duskywing 5, Northern Spring Azure Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsMay 26, 2015 ago
Sightings

Put in the right host plants and the butterflies will come

Many Spring Azure butterflies hanging around the dogwoods in my yard. American Lady laying eggs on the Pearly Everlasting and a Red Admiral checking out the nettle. These butterflies really go for their host plants, so we try to plant as many as we can and it works! Blair Hamilton, Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsMay 9, 2015 ago
Sightings

Butterfly-watching in NE Peterborough County

Bob Prentice and I visited the northeast of the County and found five new butterflies for the year – Gray Comma, Northern Spring Azure (Note: The Spring Azure in this area has now been re-classified as Northern Spring Azure, Celastrina lucia), Olympia Marble, Hoary Elfin, and Henry’s Elfin. We also Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsApril 30, 2015 ago
Sightings

Dates for “First of Year” sightings for Tony Bigg

The following are my Peterborough County “First of year” sightings this month: April 3 – Pair of Eastern Phoebes calling continuously, Brown Creeper, on Tates Rd Wilson’s Snipe calling at the north end of Northey’s Rd at 14th Line of Smith. April 4 – River Otter at north end of Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 8 yearsApril 13, 2015 ago
Sightings

Monarch & Giant Swallowtail update, plus hawk-watching this weekend

When I left the house yesterday, (September 3rd), and headed out to work near Norwood and then on to Stoney Lake later, I had seen a total of 59 Monarchs during this 2014 season. When I returned home at dusk last night, that total had grown to 83, (including 7 Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsSeptember 4, 2014 ago
Sightings

Encouraging Giant Swallowtail and Monarch report from Eastern Ontario

Here at our home near Lanark, there has been another banner year for the Giant Swallowtail. It’s been almost a repeat of the season of 2013. The first generation emerged in early June and ended in mid-June, feeding mainly on Dame’s Rocket and the orange hawkweed. The second generation started Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsSeptember 4, 2014 ago
Sightings

More Monarchs, Giant Swallowtails and both Red and White Admiral

Today, we had two Monarchs visit the Buddleia in our garden. Over the past week, we’ve had a single Monarch come to the garden most days. Yesterday, there were also a Giant Swallowtail (second of the year), a White Admiral and a Red Admiral. The admirals were on the Buddleia, Read more…

By Drew Monkman, 9 yearsAugust 26, 2014 ago
Columns

More Fish than You Thought (fish, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies of the Kawarthas)

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By Drew Monkman, 13 yearsApril 8, 2010 ago
Columns

Where the Butterflies Hang Out (Petroglyph butterfly count)

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By Drew Monkman, 14 yearsSeptember 3, 2009 ago
Columns

Where are the Butterflies This Fall?

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By Drew Monkman, 18 yearsOctober 12, 2004 ago
March 2023
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