20180916 PFN Sunday Outing
Martin Parker led a group of ten Peterborough Field Naturalists (PFN) members on a warm Sunday morning outing to the Otonabee area south of Peterborough. The first stop was the Otonabee Gravel Pit Conservation Area owned by Otonabee Conservation. This property consists of several old gravel extraction ponds plus the surrounding forest and shoreline along the Otonabee River. Despite some minor access issues such as two gates and overgrown trails, the ponds area proved to be a real gem for observation.
Along the trail to the gravel pit, Blue-headed Vireos and a Red-bellied Woodpecker were seen and heard. A Wild Turkey feather was found and photographed. At the ponds we were greeted with the first of two large flocks of Green-winged Teal. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were another highlight for the day as was a dramatic chase scene involving a Cooper's Hawk going after a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Herptile observations included American Bullfrog, Green Frog and Northern Leopard Frog. The Bullfrog was photographed from a distance and would not cooperate with stealth attempts to get closer. A century ago, the Otonabee River was known for very large populations of Bullfrogs. Now, they are rare. A handful of butterflies included a nice view of the Viceroy and a Common Green Darner dragonfly also flew close to us.
The list of 29 species of birds seen and/or heard at the Gravel Pit Area included: Canada Goose, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ruffed Grouse, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Palm Warbler.
The next stop on the outing was at the Paudash St E boat ramp in Hiawatha. Nine species of birds observed on or near Rice Lake included: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Blue Jay, American Crow and House Sparrow. Several of us had a close look at the larva of a Hickory Tussock Moth. A final stop for some members was at the Peterborough Landfill Wetland Project ponds along Bensfort Rd which produced three species: Canada Goose, Mallard and Great Blue Heron. Martin Parker submitted the bird lists to eBird.
(Photographed September 16, 2018 in Otonabee Township, Ontario, Canada)
Read MoreAlong the trail to the gravel pit, Blue-headed Vireos and a Red-bellied Woodpecker were seen and heard. A Wild Turkey feather was found and photographed. At the ponds we were greeted with the first of two large flocks of Green-winged Teal. Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were another highlight for the day as was a dramatic chase scene involving a Cooper's Hawk going after a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Herptile observations included American Bullfrog, Green Frog and Northern Leopard Frog. The Bullfrog was photographed from a distance and would not cooperate with stealth attempts to get closer. A century ago, the Otonabee River was known for very large populations of Bullfrogs. Now, they are rare. A handful of butterflies included a nice view of the Viceroy and a Common Green Darner dragonfly also flew close to us.
The list of 29 species of birds seen and/or heard at the Gravel Pit Area included: Canada Goose, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ruffed Grouse, Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Palm Warbler.
The next stop on the outing was at the Paudash St E boat ramp in Hiawatha. Nine species of birds observed on or near Rice Lake included: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Blue Jay, American Crow and House Sparrow. Several of us had a close look at the larva of a Hickory Tussock Moth. A final stop for some members was at the Peterborough Landfill Wetland Project ponds along Bensfort Rd which produced three species: Canada Goose, Mallard and Great Blue Heron. Martin Parker submitted the bird lists to eBird.
(Photographed September 16, 2018 in Otonabee Township, Ontario, Canada)
