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February 9th, 2010
Recent Sightings
November 29, 2009 - Hi: We're located just off the 5th line of Smith, north of Trent U. and have just sighted a dozen sand hill cranes flying over in V formation at about 500'. We are close to the Otonabee River and they were heading in a westerly direction. Their calls were audible from the ground. A first for us. Jim Higginson, David Lee.
October 27, 2009 - I was cutting through the old fair grounds when I saw a flock
of 15-20 Snow Buntings scratching in the dirt around a big puddle. Derek Anderson
October 26, 2009 - Last night at the saw-whet banding station conditions seemed grim. The moon was out, very bright which if some of you know means owls can see the nets. I setup around 7:30 pm and had the first 2 saw-whet owls in hand by 8:30 pm. After that everything slowed down. I don't know if it is because there are plenty of Long-eared owls hanging around looking for a saw-whet for supper or if the migration is almost over. I could hear what I thought was a saw-whet calling in the back bluff a few hundred meters away but then it came in and sat beside the net. Turned out to be this Long-eared owl which came flopping into the net and buried itself. They can mimic the saw-whet call to bring them in, probably for a meal. I was pulling it out when a second Long-eared owl hit the other net to the north of me. I ran over to grab it before it could get out but it was too late. It struggled free and flew back north towards the old windmill. This was a hatch year male and it seemed a bit under weight but had evidence it fed earlier that evening with fresh blood on its beak. I don't have much experience with Long-eared owls but it seems whenever they are around which is a lot at the start of the saw-whet season, the saw-whets dry up. Mike Blom, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
October 18, 2009 - The Saw-whet Owl banding season usually begins around the 16-17 of September here in Saskatchewan. This year it is about 2 weeks behind schedule. I have been catching saw-whet owls since 2003 and this year they are considerably late. Normally I have about 80-100 banded by now, but just when you think you know it all, birds always seem to keep you guessing. I begin banding around 8pm and try to finish up around 3am. This year has been everything but normal and last night proved the same. When I went out to check the nets I had 8 saw-whets at 9pm. It was a very busy night and I ended it with 23 new birds banded. This beat my previous night record back in 2005 of 17 owls banded. I haven't caught any banded saw-whets yet this year but in previous years I have caught owls from northern Ontario, Alberta, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Mike Blom
October 10, 2009 - This afternoon, Enid Skuce, Robbie Preston and I took a walk around the Windy Ridge trail. The fall colours seen from the top of the ridge were beautiful, although not as spectacular as previous years. Enid, with her keen eye, spotted some movement in the top of an apple tree, which turned out to be a baby porcupine. It was about the size of a small cat and quite intimidated by our curiosity and our attempt to comfort him/her as it climbed almost to the top of the tree, so we retreated after a quick look at the cute little critter. We spotted what appeared to be a small flycatcher, flitting up and down off a branch, hunting for flying insects, as well as what appeared to be warblers, but the sun was not in our favour to allow for much more than a shape. There were also the usual blue jays and chickadees. On the way home, I decided to the long way and drove west on the Cambray road, in search of Sandhill Cranes. We headed south on Eldon Road and then East on Black School Road where we stopped the car, as 5 Sandhills flew over the road, heading in the direction of Goose Lake. We could hear a large flock calling from the south, behind a large corn field. During the next 15 minutes, They started to fly in groups of 5 to 15 or so, following the first group. We lost count after 70.
Judy Kennedy, Lindsay.
September 12, 2009 - Having just joined the Couchiching Conservancy we took our English visitors
for a walk round Cameron Ranch this afternoon. We saw Eastern Meadow larks, American Goldfinches and a Thrasher. In the meadow beyond the marsh, on the edge of the woods, we saw a black bear with three cubs. She spotted us watching her and all four ran off. Jan Ridgway,
Doyle Rd.
July 19, 2009 - I was walking down the roadway at the Heavy Equipment building at SSFC in Lindsay and saw at least 2 Indigo Buntings. See "Picture 1" and "Picture 2". Derek Anderson
June 19, 2009 - This morning, just as I came out into my office, the little green scarecrow ornament that I had stuck in the window box was vibrating. Soon after, a female red squirrel hopped up and started reefing off the raffia that sticks out the bottom of the shirt. She gathered up a bundle with some dead leaves and ran under my car. Too soon after, she was back, yanking on
the grass again. I went out and watched her hop up and disappear into the engine. When I lifted the hood, I discovered that she was building a nest in the well over the right front spring. Squirrel Power.....Who Knew??? I removed the nest, but she was right back in there with the stuff I dropped on the ground. Eventually, I had to leave the hood up to make here realize this was not a good place to raise her family. See photos attached. "Picture 1", "Picture 2", "Picture 3". Judy Kennedy.
June 8, 2009 - Last week I received an email from Mary Hartley advising me of Chimney Swift she saw darting into a Chimney on the south end of the Midtown Mattress store at the corner of Russell and William Streets in Lindsay. Sure enough! Robbie Preston and I stood in the LCBO parking lot on last Thursday evening and watched a pair drop into the chimney at 9:00 PM. There were numerous Swifts flying overhead, and, as if on queue, they vanished, flying south east towards Lindsay,Glenelg and Melbourne Streets. On Saturday, I discovered an additional nest chimney on Melbourne Street. But the best news is, last evening, I discovered a very large roost of 30 or 40 Swifts in the tall chimney beside the west entrance of the church hall at St Paul's Anglican Church on Russell Street, beside the Post Office at Russell and Cambridge Streets. At about 8:30 PM, the Swifts congregated over the church and began circling the chimney. Then, they would swoop over the chimney and those who were on the correct flight path would drop into the top of the chimney, sometimes in single file, or one or two at a time. It was interesting to see them swoop down, stall over the opening and then drop down the shaft like leaves falling from a tree. Happy birding, Judy Kennedy.
May 30, 2009 - There is a Great Egret at the corner of Colborne and HWY 35, it was seen May
29 & 30. Derek Anderson.
May 24th, 2009 - We had a male Blue-winged Warbler and a lst generation Brewsters Warbler in our bird bath yesterday! This morning I found them feeding just a short distance away. Some other new birds were a female Redstart and a male Indigo Bunting. Unfortunately we also have Brown-headed Cowbirds. Louise Horne near Coboconk.
May 23rd, 2009 - What an exciting morning! The Golden-winged Warbler, Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Clay-coloured Sparrows, Gray Catbird and White-throated Sparrow have returned and along with all the birds already here the chorus of bird song was glorious. To top things off, a male Fisher came within two feet of me while he was hunting and yesterday two Moose, a yearling and a cow, were seen just a short distance from our home. Louise Horne near Coboconk.
May 21, 2009 - Several more birds have returned this week. A Black-billed Cuckoo, Nashville Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo and Oven Bird. Louise Horne near Coboconk.
May 17, 2009 - Yesterday around dusk we spotted a pair of Caspian Terns among ring billed gulls on flooded wasteland south of the airport on Hwy 35. After checking out some ducks, we looked back to find them gone. We went back to the site at 8.30a.m. this morning to find them breeding. Lloyd & Maureen McEwan.
May 16, 2009 - A very feisty male indigo bunting visited our feeders this morning. After spending awhile voraciously eating black-oiled sunflower seeds, and going beak-to-beak with a couple of purple finches at the same feeder, he moved on to the finch feeders and feasted on niger seed; he even tried out the oriole feeder, to no avail. Last week, a red-headed woodpecker came to our feeders. He made many appearances during a 3-day visit, but we haven't seen him since last Sunday afternoon. Pictures of both of these birds are being sent to the website. Lizz Hoyle Elm Tree Rd, just east of Glenarm.
May 15, 2009 - Today Kris Vande Sompel and I birded around Peterborough and Lindsay racking up 99 species in 7 hours. We had a pair of Upland Sandpipers on fence posts on Peace rd at one of the big curves in the rd when you head towards HWY#7. We then made it over to the Lindsay lagoons and found several Solitary and Least Sandpipers, plus 3 Black Terns. The best bird was a WILLET in breeding plumage. It was in the most SW pond along the skummy cattail bed. There were still a good variety of ducks present; American Wigeon, Gadwall, Blue and Green winged Teal, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Lesser and Greater Scaup. We also had an American Bittern and an American Coot. Myles Falconer.
May 8th, 2009 - Today more birds have returned. They included a Wood Thrush, Nashville Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Also some beautiful butterflies - Female Black Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Mourning Cloak, American Lady, Compton Tortoiseshell, Spring Azure. Louise Horne near Coboconk.
May 6, 2009 - The first warbler of the year appeared today - the Black and White Warbler was doing its imitation of a squeaky wheelbarrow wheel. Eric Davis, Woodville
May 4, 2009 - April 26-May 3. The following birds have returned to our area in the past week: Savannah Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird, Brown Thrasher, Towhee, House Wren, Upland Sandpiper, Great Crested Flycatcher & Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler. We also have 3 Bluebird boxes with eggs and two more nests started.
Wildflowers blooming: White Trilliums, Trout Lily, Barren Strawberry, Pussytoes, Dandelion, Common Blue Violet, Bloodroot, Hepatica, Dutchmen's Breeches, Virginia Waterleaf, Coltsfoot, Blue Cohosh, Bellwort, Wild Ginger, Prairie Smoke (in bud). Louise Horne near Coboconk
April 30, 2009 - The Northern Waterthrush and House Wren made their first appearances in these parts today. Eric Davis, Woodville.
April 28, 2009 - A male Ring Necked Duck in full breeding plumage landed on our pond this morning, . He was on his own, hung around for a while then took off. Jan Ridgway near Bexley.
April 25, 2009 - What an exciting week! Tuesday 21st April - We watched a Sandhill Crane for about 20 minutes in our meadow and on Wednesday 22nd April there was a Short Eared Owl and ¼ hr later a Marsh Hawk quartering the ground during the late afternoon. Jan Ridgway near Bexley.
April 19, 2009 - The American Bittern was chug-a-lugging today. Eric Davis, Woodville
April 14, 2009 - I was doing a field ID test for my forest inventory class and had 2 red-shouldered hawks, one eating a garter snake. Other observations were an eastern pheobe and a merlin. Mike Blom, Lindsay
April 12, 2009 - Lots of waterfowl today at the lagoons. Lesser Scaup 70, Ring-necked duck 60, Bufflehead 100+, Common Goldeneye 10, Black duck 2, Mallard 20, American Wigeon 100, Northern Pintail 1, Green-winged teal 100+, Blue-winged teal 20, American coot 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 1, Pied-billed Grebe 1. Among the ring-billeds and herring gulls were 6 Glaucous Gulls (3 adults, and 3 juveniles). Myles Falconer
April 9,2009 - Osprey and Tree Swallows have returned to Bobcaygeon. We had 7 Fox Sparrows at our feeders today as well as some lingering Common Redpoll, Pine Sisken and American Tree Sparrow. John Bick, Anderson Line, Bobcaygeon.
April 2, 2009 - Fox sparrow, white-throated sparrow and phoebe all showed up today. Yay spring! Eric Davis, Woodville.
April 1, 2009 - There was an American Woodcock on the verge near Victoria Road yesterday morning, March 31st. It looked a little unsteady on it's feet but by the time we had turned the car around to look more closely it had disappeared into the bush.
Such beautiful, striking markings! Jan Ridgway, near Bexley.
March 31, 2009 - Pretty exciting stuff - I heard Chorus frogs singing today in a pond near my place. Eric Davis, Woodville.
March 30, 2009 - We hadn't seen the Northern Shrike since the 23rd but there was one right
outside our back door this morning. It had taken a Chickadee from round our feeders and was having lunch. Jan Ridgway.
March 28, 2009 - On the morning of Saturday 28th March there were a pair of Hooded Mergansers
on the creek at the bottom of Doyle Rd, where it joins County Rd 35. Jan Ridgway.
March 23, 2009 - I am not an expert but I am pretty sure it was a Northern Shrike not a Loggerhead on our property yesterday evening and again this evening. Jan Ridgway.
March 22, 2009 - There is open water on Scugog River off River Rd south of Lindsay; Golden-eye, and Swans in the distance. Leslie Dyment
March 22, 2009 - A pair of Bluebirds were checking out a blue bird nest box on Ranchers Rd. in Cameron today. Leslie Dyment.
March 21, 2009 - As I was driving south on Hwy 35, a Snow Goose, following second from the lead of a long string of Canada Geese passed overhead at Country Mile Road. Judy Kennedy, Lindsay.
March 21, 2009 - I saw a turkey vulture today. Loreen Randall
March 19, 2009 - First song sparrow of the season arrived today at my place. Eric Davis, Woodville.
March 16, 2009 - Spring is finally here in central Ontario. We have redwing blackbirds, killdeer, grackles, meadow larks and robins all over the place. Looking forward to seeing some more spring birds. Got a look at a pair of redtailed hawks mating yesterday too. Mike Blom, Lindsay.
March 14, 2009 - I saw a northern harrier and an american kestrel as I was driving into to Lindsay from Cambray. I also caught my first saw-whet owl for 2009 on friday night. Mike Blom, Lindsay.
March 14, 2009 - Sandhill Cranes were heard by Dale Leadbeater while hiking the Hogs Back.
March 14, 2009 - Saw my first Robin this afternoon in my backyard, Sat. Mar.14/09
location Elm Tree Rd, south of Dew Drop Rd. Leslie Gist, Lindsay.
March 13, 2009 - First Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles appeared here this morning. Compare this to last year's date of March 27. Eric Davis, Woodville
February 13, 2009 - I have seen a Belted Kingfisher on a tree over Perch Creek on Doyle Rd, near Bexley three times this week. We also have numerous Chickadees, Chipping Sparrows, Slate coloured Junco's, Hairy and Downey Woodpeckers, White and Red Breasted Nuthatches and Blue Jays on our feeders. Jan Ridgway.
February 10, 2009 - A Great Gray Owl has been observed near the transmission tower on Oliver's
Road south of Irwin's Road in former Verulam Township north of Bobcaygeon. I found it there yesterday near dusk and again today in the
cedars north of the tower around noon. Hopefully it will stay. I checked out the Northern Hawk Owl at Flynn's Corner of 507 and 36 as well today and it is still there. Not many days in one's life in the Kawarthas can one expect to see a GGO and a NHO on the same day. We still have 7 Pine and 1 Evening Grosbeak visiting our feeders at 177 Anderson Line off Oliver's Road and this afternoon I counted ( ?) a flock of about 350 Bohemian Waxwings feeding on buckthorn berries near Hwy 49. John Bick, Bobcaygeon.
February 5, 2009 - Two robins were in my sumac trees today. I have never seen robins at this time of year at my place. Eric Davis, Woodville
February 3, 2009 - On January 31st while setup for a snowy owl along 36 north I had a fantastic view of a juvenile Pomarine Jaeger flying south toward Highway 7. The bird was only 20 feet over my truck as it headed south. First Jaeger I've seen since being in Alaska last summer. Mike Blom, Lindsay.
January 30, 2009 - I saw a Great Gray Owl this morning from 8: 00 AM to 8:45 AM on Poulsom Road at the Rail Trail (found yesterday by Julie Presley). The owl moved south down the trail perching in the cedars on the east side and was hard to see if you didn't know it was there. Dan Bone.
January 27, 2009 - Dad and I had a Barred Owl hunting at the feeder yesterday. It's been hanging about for a while. Dale Leadbeater. (To see a picture of this owl, go to Media Gallery > Birds)
January 27, 2009 - I'm sending this message for Jim Saigeon. His daughter Mary saw a Boreal Owl!?! You go in the bush road to the cabin and the owl was in a tree just beside it. Of course, if you go off the roadway, you will need snowshoes!! Jim is going to see if he can find it today. Louise Horne
January 10, 2009 - With a little effort, there is some good birding in the Bobcaygeon area this winter. Today at our feeders on Anderson Line, we had 6 Pine Grosbeak in addition to the many Pine Siskens, Common Redpolls and Goldfinch now coming
regularly. Recently, we had a Northern Shrike chasing our one bewildered Northern Cardinal which escaped into the cedar thicket. In Bobcaygeon, 10 Common Goldeneye continue to fish in the fast flowing Big Bob River and a large flock of Cedar Waxwings has been seen regularly on Cedar Tree Lane. There were about 7 Purple Finch at feeders on Moon Line Road off Hwy 36 this morning. Up at the corner of Irwin and Oliver Roads some American Robins were feasting on buckthorn berries and Golden-Crowned Kinglets were located there as well. A Northern Shrike was seen on a treetop at Devitt and Lyle Roads. Flocks of Bohemian Waxwings as well as White-Winged Crossbills are
around sporadically. Enjoy. John Bick, Bobcaygeon.
January 4, 2009 - Birds seen in and around Kawartha Lakes in the first 3 days of the year: Gray jay,rough-legged hawk,snowy owl,northern hawk-owl,pine siskin,pine grosbeak,common redpoll,red-bellied woodpecker,and many other,more common,birds. Tim Brophy, Lindsay
December 26, 2008 - On Dec. 26, at 4:00 PM, a Great Gray Owl two fields west of the intersection of Cedar Tree Road and Bulmer's Road, hunting from trees at the edge of a pasture 400 metres from Cedar Tree Road (north of the road). Found by Stephen O'Donnell and Judy Arai and observed by Dan Bone and Susan Blayney. We hope to get this brownish, first year bird for the Kawartha CBC tomorrow but it is nice to have a count week sighting in the bag. Go north on County Road 121 to Cedar Tree Road and drive 4 kms east to Bulmer's Road. Dan Bone
December 22, 2008 - I was at Flynn's corners on Hwy 36 west of Buckhorn and saw a Northern Hawk Owl trying to keep warm. Tony Crocker (To see a picture of this owl go to Media Gallery > Birds)
December 22, 2008 - My last total for snowies observed withing the immediate vicinity of Lindsay was 6 snow's, one adult male, one adult female, one Hatch-year female and 3 hatch-year males. There is a massive almost pure black hatch-year female by the ball fields in the big field to the north, she usually hangs out on one of the small mounds in that field during the day. Mike Blom
December 21, 2008 - Owl Updates
1. Wed Dec 17- I saw the immature Snowy Owl at the Lindsay Airport from Monarch Rd. off of Thunder Bridge Rd behind the Lindsay Airport...sitting on fence post viewed between the two houses.
2. On Thursday the 18th, Jan and I visited the Owl Woods on Amherst Island near Kingston and while we did not see as many as some birders did that day, we located one Northern Saw Whet, several Long Eared and 4 Short Eared Owls. There were many Red Tailed and Rough Legged Hawks, a Merlin and Kestrels as well as one Snowy Owl on the KFN property. 40+ Tundra Swans were in the passage between the island and the mainland . So there is lots to see there although after this latest storm the Marshall Sideroad into the Owl Woods may not be passable by vehicle.
3. The big local news is the Northern Hawk Owl at Flynn's Corners at the intersection of 36 and 507 between Bobcaygeon and Buckhorn. I saw it high in the elm tree opposite the gas station on Friday am the 19th
before the snow storm. It will likely stay there for awhile if the hunting is good. The gas station attendent said that it has been there for several days.
Happy Shovelling AND Merry Christmas to all. See you on the 27th. John Bick, Bobcaygeon
December 15, 2008 - I was saying to my wife last Thursday that all the usual winter birds weren't coming to the feeders as in past years and I was wondering why. That as I was reading the paper looking out at the feeders, there were about 20 pine siskins feeding and flitting about the feeders, which is a usual sight most years. I glanced up and thought a blue jay was flying through them as they scattered. It was a female merlin and it caught a pine siskin on the wing right in front of me and carried it off over the house. No wonder the birds are elsewhere this year! Tom Murphy in Fenelon Falls.
December 14, 2008 - At the Go Kart track just south of Lindsay Airport on the west side of Hwy. 35 at 4:.20
pm Dec. 14, a male (immature) Snowy Owl perched on a flood light on top of a light pole about 50' from the road. Robbie Preston --- Kawartha Field Naturalists
December 11, 2008 - It's 10:30 AM and a flock of about 30 White Winged Crossbills has just descended on the street outside my house. Quickly I slip on my coat and boots, grab my camera and walk up the street towards them. There are large white pine and spruce trees, laden with cones, on either side of the street, and as I approach them, I could hear a constant "crackling" noise in the trees. I quickly discover that, in addition to the flock, picking seeds from the snow on the street, hundreds more are feasting on the seeds in the cones in the tree tops. They were so hungry that I can walk within a few feet to take photos. Judy Kennedy, Pleasantview Park, Lindsay.
November 30, 2008 - There is a hatch year male snowy owl located at the Lindsay airport. It has been there since Nov.24th and if you want to view it check around the hydropoles along highway 35. Another good spot to see it is behind Loblaws on the massive Hydro line beside the ball diamonds. I caught and banded it last thursday and it was in very good condition. Any other sightings within the Lindsay/Peterborough area would greatly assist my study of these arctic visitors this winter. Mike Blom, Lindsay
November 30, 2008 - The male Red Bellied Woodpecker is still coming to Jack Collinson's feeders at 3 Bury's Green Road. This is north of Fenelon Falls just off highway 121 (30 metres from the intersection of 121 and County Road 37 - aka Bury's Green Road). Proceed along the winding laneway past the house to a parking area and view the backyard feeders from there. The bird also goes to suet in the evergreens on the north side of the laneway. Dan Bone, the Boonies
November 18, 2008 - A quick trip to Rona Cashway in Lindsay turned into a delightful 15 minute delay, as I stood in the parking lot, watching a Northern Harrier performing its aerial acrobatics while hunting over the steep embankment below the exit ramp from Highway #7. Judy Kennedy, Lindsay
November 7, 2008 - I enjoyed a Great Horned Owl calling at my place last evening between 5 - 7 pm. Also snow buntings were flying over - there were about 30. Leslie Dyment, Cameron.
November 5, 2008 - Early birders on a November day that felt like spring went searching for the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Unfortunately, we were not succesful on that endeavour but we did manage to spot: robin, common golden eye, bluejays, chickadees, hairy and downy woodpeckers, loon, mallards, geese, house finch, pine siskins, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds, ring-billed gull, tree sparrow and a lifer for me, a female white-winged crossbill. Eric Davis, Woodville
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