Hawk and another Goose -- Peterborough March 16 2012

Mike Burrell reported a Greater White-fronted Goose south of Peterborough today.

Abby and I drove the area yesterday evening and came up with 48 Wild Turkeys, 13 Northern Pintail, 2 Green-winged Teal, a Wood Duck, a Turkey Vulture, Eastern Meadowlarks, Song Sparrows and a Great Blue Heron among other things, but nothing special hiding in all the Canada Geese. Anyway, I arrived a couple of hours after Mike's report and it was still there. It was a bit distant for the 300mm but as a record shot, I'm more than happy.

Greater White-fronted Goose -- Briar Hill Wetland, Peterborough

In other news, there was a male Long-tailed Duck on Little Lake (the first I've seen in Peterborough County although one overwintered in Hastings less than a kilometer into Northumberland) and the Horned Grebe is still hanging around.

On the morning of the 14th I checked the Lakefield Sewage Lagoons and finally saw a flock of Snow Buntings locally. Shortly after that, a Red-shouldered Hawk soared over while being harrassed by an American Crow.

Red-shouldered Hawk

I rarely see these guys so it was a really nice surprise.

Towhee and a Turkey -- January 14 2012

I saw a previously reported Eastern Towhee today that was only about five minutes from my house! It was just hanging out in and around a spuce with a bunch of Dark-eyed Juncos.

What day is complete without a Wild Turkey?

And finally my first American Robin of the new year.

I checked a bunch of other spots but pickings were slim. The nice flock of gulls that had been at Little Lake in Peterborough was gone, probably due to the cold freezing up a lot more of the lake.