Birding Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

August 20 to 26, 2019

AMERICAN ROBIN with Mountain Ash berry

When a new visitor to our community this past winter told me her back yard stretched down to a creek and up to a public park, she (Barbara B) knew I was all ears. Good potential for birds -- and possibly a summer visit.

Since I started birding actively in 2011 out here in Arizona, I've learned a lot about the birds, their songs, their habits and habitat. But Ontario's east-coast birds would challenge me with their vocalizations -- chips mostly, this time of year.

Barbara knew all the birds in her full back yard of flowers, grass and trees. AMERICAN ROBIN, born under the eaves of her deck, dominated the Mountain Ash tree full of red berries and fiercely defended against BLUE JAY, NORTHERN CARDINAL and any other bird that dared to try to sneak a very ripe red berry.

BLUE JAY

COMMON GRACKLE

Male AMERICAN GOLDFINCH camouflaged by yellow flowers

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE were fun for me to watch as I seldom view them from an outdoor deck at mid-tree level. Sometimes it would come right up to the deck with us - in this case, checking out a mirror!

Talking to its image???  Probably getting insects.

Hibiscus blooming on the deck

At Millennium Park, a GREAT BLUE HERON preened the whole time we watched it. A smattering of molting MALLARD were nearby.

GREAT BLUE HERON (two above photos)

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT

At Kawartha Heights Park, adjacent to Barbara's property at the rear, our first sighting was a GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER. Need to squint to see the yellow on the belly of any of them but under tail coverts show well.

Juvenile AMERICAN ROBIN

Male AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

Back at Barbara's house, I was fascinated by the black squirrels (2). The first photo below is a "gotcha" from the squirrel after Barbara put up a baffle to keep them from the bird feeder!

It hit the apple tree instead! [I had watched it attempt to reach the feeder from above but it couldn't managed the rope attaching it. So, it ran down the trunk and made a flying leap over to the baffle (upside down tinfoil roasting pan), landed KERPLUNK on it and slid right off to the ground. After two such tries, it headed for the apple tree!]

On Sunday and Monday, Glenda Jones (also from Ontario) drove over to join us for some of the hot spots in the area.

Loggerhead Marsh was fairly quiet but did add HAIRY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER and MARSH WREN to our list.

Then it was on to Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Area where we heard the distinctive drumming of the PILEATED WOODPECKER, found a RED-EYED VIREO and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE. A HAIRY WOODPECKER also showed nicely.

Queen Anne's Lace

Shelf Lichen (fungi)

AMERICAN ROBIN were at most places we visited (below are Barbara's (juvie robins) as I took so many photos there, I skipped them in the woods and other places.

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Burnham Woods was absolutely delightful with its tall trees, wide trails and varied habitat.

HAIRY WOODPECKER

RED-EYED VIREO

PILEATED WOODPECKER holes - old and new were common throughout the woods.
Bird, however, was NOT!

The Trent Rotary Rail Trail proved interesting with many CEDAR WAXWING. One of my favorite birds.

Several GRAY CATBIRD called to us but caught only one with the camera.

EUROPEAN STARLING

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

SONG SPARROW

No photo of the AMERICAN REDSTART there: male and female. Too fast, back and forth across the trail deep into the shrubs. Great sighting, though!

Finishing up with the woodsy sites, we drove home by way of the Otonabee River.  Glenda stopped quickly when she spotted a nice bird:

COMMON LOON (above and below)  2 present. Photos are of one Loon, closest to shore.

At the Trent University Canal Area, we were able to add a BELTED KINGFISHER to our species list, but it was across the canal, a bit distant for my camera.

At the entrance to one of the woodsy sites, someone had posted this silhouette of a Pileated Woodpecker.
Just good enough to make us do a double-take!!

Having lived on the east coast for many years, I had seen my fair share of PILEATED WOODPECKER but it wasn't until I landed in Arizona that I got a bit more serious about taking photos of all the birds I see. The only one that popped up in my files was one I took on my trip north to see the Great Gray Owl.  

PILEATED WOODPECKER (Superior, WI)  [file photo]

The Mountain Ash in Barbara's back yard was not yet entirely wiped clean by the AMERICAN ROBIN family, nor was it as chock full of berries as when I had arrived!

Of our total 48 bird species, 19 (almost half) were from her backyard area.

It was a splendid visit with varied activities, fresh cool air, lots of greenery and enough bird sightings to keep me happy!! 

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