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July 29th, 2010
Recent Sightings
My grand-daughter and boyfriend had just left our house for a bicycle tour of the Carden Plain when they saw a snake in the middle of Doyle Road, east of the old landfill site. The snake was quite large – Lucy’s estimate was about 80cm long, 5cm diameter – and as they approached, it flattened its head and began hissing. They photographed it and continued their ride. (Photo attached). Jan and I identified it as a hog-nosed snake from the photograph and Dan Bone confirmed this. We then reported the sighting to Ontario Nature’s Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. We have previously seen hog-nosed snakes in this area, but never this size or coloration. Martin Ridgway.
June 20, 2010 - I took the opportunity this evening to visit Doyle Road in order to hear the Chuck-Will's-Widow singing. I also got the chance to see the bird flying silhouetted against the evening sky. The size of the bird surprised me. As it got darker a whip-poor-will also started to sing which allowed a good comparison between these two goatsuckers. This bird was first reported by Dan Bone's group while participating in the Carden challenge on June 18. Another lifer for me this year! Eric Davis, Woodville
May 30, 2010 - Tonight there were fireflies glowing for the first time this year. I cannot recall seeing fireflies in May before. Eric Davis, Woodville
May 21, 2010 - I managed to track down the yellow-throated vireo this morning on Victoria Road. It and its mate were busily building a nest. Lifer for me! Eric Davis, Woodville
May 12, 2010 - The Green heron squawked its way by my place this morning. Eric Davis, Woodville
May 10, 2010 - Baillie birdathon. The Baillie Birdathon produced two "lifers" for most of the participants, me included. A lifer is a bird one has never seen before and we got them at the Lindsay Sewage lagoons. Susan Blayney spotted both of them: a Eurasian Wigeon and a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Last I heard, the male blackbird was still present in the cells north and south of the building. It moves back and forth across the dike and is often harassed by Red-winged Blackbirds. It seems to have no mate. The Eurasian Wigeon is seen around Southern Ontario more and more often and has been on the CKL check list for a few years. The following information was downloaded from the internet: E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia. Eurasian wigeon: Population and Conservation Status: This species is abundant and stable across Eurasia, and the number of individuals wintering on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America has increased dramatically over the past 60 years. In British Columbia, where this species was first documented in the 1950s, the number of wintering individuals has closely followed this trend. For example, on the Ladner Christmas Bird Count (where the largest numbers of this species are recorded) this species was first recorded as recently as 1971. Today, however, the average number of individuals detected on this count (based on the last 5 years of counting) exceeds 75 individuals, with some counts recording more than 100 birds. It is now possible to record more than 100 Eurasian Wigeons at a single location in certain areas of the Lower Mainland where enormous numbers of dabbling ducks regularly concentrate, such as Boundary Bay and Tsawwassen. Because it does not breed in North America, this species is not given a conservation ranking by either the federal (COSEWIC [Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada]) or provincial (B.C. CDC [Conservation Data Centre]) government. The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a western bird with the nearest breeding population in the Lake St Clair area of Ontario. It is not on the official CKL Checklist of birds yet and we were thrilled to have to write it in. I extend a warm thank you to all the participants: Gord Scribbins, Loreen Randall, John Bick, Mary Bunka, Brian Murphy and Susan Blayney. I will be available to collect your generous contributions at the June 7th general meeting. Oh yes. We saw 64 species. Dan Bone
May 9, 2010 - Just so we have it on record, this morning the ground was whitened with snow, the temperature was 0 and there was a wind chill! Eric Davis, Woodville
May 5, 2010 - The Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers appeared today. Around 10 pm stars were in evidence and the marsh was a cacophany of leopard frogs and spring peepers punctuated every so often by a swamp sparrow. Absolutely amazing! Eric Davis, Woodville
May 5,2010 - This morning, there are White Crowned Sparrows calling from the treetops in my neighbourhood. Judy Kennedy, Pleasantview Park, Lindsay.
May 3, 2010 - Brown Thrasher, Yellow Warbler and Green Heron all appeared today in my area. Great day for birding! Eric Davis, Woodville.
May 1, 2010 - a Sandhill Crane was spotted flying over the old fair grounds headed towards the wet area on Hwy 35 across from Wilson's Field. Derek Anderson
May 1st, 2010 - This morning, Robbie Preston and I got rained out, while attempting to paint trail markings on the trees in the Altberg yellow trail. Of course, once we arrived home and got into dry clothes, the sun came out, so we decided not to let the entire day go to waste. We went over to Ken Reid Park to check on our Black Tern platforms and turtle basking logs, in front of the viewing deck, north of the boardwalk and found that they were all right were we had planted them in the fall of 2008. During our visit, a Canada Goose swam along the opposite side of the river with her seven little yellow goslings, while an American Coot called from the cattails. The Osprey was seen turning the eggs in her nest. On the way back to the car, we discovered a juvenile Water Snake, basking in the sun high up in the cattails, next to the boardwalk. A stop at the wetland at the northeast corner of Penial Road and Elm Tree Road revealed a Sora Rail through the base of a willow. Judy Kennedy, Lindsay.
April 29, 2010 - Martin and I checked out a Great Blue Heron roost on Shrike Rd (between Talbot River Road and McNamee Rd, on your right going north - second bridge over Talbot river). Late afternoon/early evening is a good time to go. There are at least 8 nests visible from the road with lots of activity among the Herons and Red-wing Blackbirds. We also saw a Northern Flicker and a Muskrat swam by in the pool. A deer crossing the road near our house on the return journey made it a great trip out. Jan and Martin Ridgway.
April 22, 2010 - I took Robbie Preston to the wetland on the east side of Elm Tree and Peniel Rd. We played back the call of the Virgina Rail over the car CD player, which set up a cacophony of "oinks" and "squeaks" from two pairs and to our delight, a Common Moorhen came out to the edge of the rushes at the roadside to investigate the "intruder". A first for Robbie. Judy Kennedy, Lindsay
April 21, 2010 - Today marks the spring arrival of the house wren at my place. For the next few months I will be treated with non-stop wren chatter! Eric Davis, Woodville
April 17, 2010 - While at Frenchman's Bay for an Ontario Nature meeting today, two warblers were sighted; the pine warbler and the yellow-rumped warbler. Should be up this way soon! Eric Davis, Woodville.
April 15, 2010 - The swamp and chipping sparrows both returned today. Eric Davis, Woodville
April 10, 2010 - During a long walk last evening on Elm Ttree Road, I observed and heard 3 different meadowlarks singing. These sightings were approximately 1/4 mile apart, just north, and south, of Glenarm Road, on Elm Tree.
Earlier in the week we also heard a winnowing snipe in the same vicinity. Lizz Hoyle
April 4, 2010 - First flicker of the year. Eric Davis, Woodville
April 3, 2010 - A Sunday stroll on the Victoria Rail Trail, south of Ken Reid Park turned out an Eastern Kingbird and a Northern Harrier, amongst the robins, black birds and chickadees. Judy Kennedy, Lindsay
April 3, 2010 - First Eastern Phoebe of the year in the barnyard this morning. Also a pair of Wood Ducks looking at tree cavities. Last night I heard Wilson's Snipe and Wood Frogs for the first time. The Spring Peepers have been singing for a couple of evenings. Dan Bone.
March 27, 2010 - The lovely fox sparrow returned today. Although he is not yet singing, his presence at the feeder is very welcome. This is the earliest return I can remember. Eric Davis, Woodville
March 25, 2010 - After an almost total absence of birdlife at my feeder this past winter, I'm thrilled when any bird shows up. Today, there were lots of grackles, a pair of mourning doves, two red winged blackbirds and a single male cowbird. Judy Kennedy, Pleasantview Park, Lindsay.
March 23, 2010 - We saw our first Buffleheads yesterday: 3 pairs, and Common Mergansers mating. Anne Barbour, Coboconk
March 18, 2010 - I was visiting at the Blue Oak Bed and Breakfast owned by fellow KFN member Diane Grubb. Suddenly, I noticed, what, at first glance, from it's flapping wing movements, appeared to be a bat, flying straight at the big window at the back of the house. A last second, right angled and then left angled maneuver brought it past the big side windows gave me a close look. A Chimney Swift? Could it be?
Given the mild weather we have been enjoying for the past couple of weeks, I suppose anything is possible. Diane's lovely old house is in the amongst the original century homes along the north side of the river and there are many big old chimneys in close proximity, not to mention two or three on her house, that could be home to our little friends. Judy Kennedy
March 15, 2010 - First flower blooms of 2010 in the City of Kawartha Lakes! Brian and I counted 30+ groups of Skunk Cabbage flowers on Baseline Road, Coboconk. This may be an early flowering record. I'll take anybody who wants to admire them after the next KFN meeting. Anne Barbour
March 15, 2010 - 6:00 pm Our first bluebird of the year arrived and started checking out the boxes. This is the earliest we have ever seen one. Does that mean that spring is going to be earlier this year? See a picture here. Lizz and Bill Hoyle.
March 14, 2010 - On Friday, a pair of Robins were hopping across the front lawn looking for lunch and yesterday, the top of my maple tree beside my house was filled with Red-winged blackbirds, noisily announcing there arrivals with their all too familiar " Oh-kee-leee"
Judy Kennedy, Pleasantview Park, Lindsay.
March 12, 2010 - Grackles and red wing blackbirds heard and seen for the first time around our farm. We are 9km north of Fenelon Falls. Susan Blayney
March 11, 2010 - Good to feel Spring in the air. We weren't sure when the Sandhills returned but we've been checking the Peniel Road area every day the past two weeks watching for the return of the Redwinged Blackbirds - we had our first sightings, and sounds!, this morning. We also saw our first robin and a flight of geese heading north, and by the swamp what appeared to be an Epidonax ... - flicked it's tail upward unlike a previous sighting I thought was an Eastern Phoebe - wagged it's tail downward, and which I've learned, though a flycatcher, eats berries in winter. Could it be??? Maureen & Lloyd McEwan.
March 11, 2010 - Not a local sighting but a nesting great horned owl is good subject matter for a photo. According to the local Audubon group here in S. South Carolina two whooping cranes were sighted in a wetland nearby in January, the first recorded sighting in the state since 1850! Looking forward to seeing some early migrants to the Kawarthas in a couple of weeks. Vic Orr
March 11, 2010 - I went out to feed the horses at 7:30 this morning. A flock of Canada Geese flew over, and some Robins were singing in the trees. Other than nature sounds, it's pretty quiet out here on the Campbellford farm. Tony Crocker.
March 11, 2010 - Mourning doves have been pairing up over the last week with lots of cooing and displays and competition for those females! Today, I saw crows busily gathering nesting materials. Eric Davis, Woodville
March 11, 2010 - A pair of Sandhill cranes flew over last evening. Robbie Preston, Lindsay.
March 11, 2010 - Red-winged Blackbirds arrived yesterday. Dan Bone.
March 11, 2010 - A male purple finch showed up at the feeder today, and a pair of robins are scouting the lawns. Spring is coming!! We're a mile east of Glenarm. Lizz Hoyle
March 8 & 9, 2010 - We saw a Pied-Billed Grebe out our diningroom window on Balsam Lake near Coboconk. Anne and Brian Barbour.
February 21, 2010 - See a picture of a Barred Owl I found on Marks Rd, Cameron. Leslie Dyment.
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