WEATHER PI-IENOMENA:

A wild northeaster (storm) caused several million dollars damage to wharves and breakwaters on the north shore of Prince Edward Island on Nov. 5th. Sensor buoys at Rustico indicated swells up to 7 metres and exposed shores and coastal structures took a real pounding by the surf. In addition to significant coastal dune changes, the storm event also caused heavy mortality to some marine animals at certain locations. Razorbill clams in Covehead Harbour were swirled out of their sandy bottom home and deposited in piles by some of the blinds. Bar clams at Stanhope, Rustico, French River and Hardy's Channel were dug out and deposited on the shore. In western Prince Edward Island between Alberton and North Cape, lobsters were tossed up on shore and many were killed or injured. This storm followed a northwester on October 22nd which caused considerable coastal erosion in some areas of western P.E.I. (Jim Jenkins)

First snow flurries of autumn in Hampton on Nov. 18 (JDM).

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

Introductions: Jim Jenkins reported that Codium fragile, know commonly as green fleece, oyster thief, sputnik weed, and deadman's fingers had been discovered on the Island in approximately 1996. In Malpeque Bay, it is known to have killed oysters in one area. Another species, the club tunicate was discovered in Georgetown Harbour where it has become well established and is now fouling mussel lines (JJ). A black widow spider came in on a load of lumber in Summerside in the autumn of 2000 (BMa). Arachnids: Its been a great autumn for dandy long leg spiders (RPh). Insects: Check out our local sphinx moths at http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/oehlkew 1 Cabbage Butterfly flying in hedgerow at Hampton on Oct. 25 (JDM, LY).

Birds: Red-throated Loon - 35 to 45 at Argyle Shore in Oct. (JDM), 25 at Canoe Cove on Oct. 9 (EMa); Common Loon - 4 at Black Pond in Pleasant View in Oct. (JBl), 3 at Canoe Cove on Oct. 9 (EMa); Pied- billed Grebe - 2 at Long Pond in late Oct. (RRM-HC), 2 at Indian River on Oct. 22 (EMa); Horned Grebe - 10 at Malpeque on Oct. 22 (EMa); Red-necked Grebe - 5 at Malpeque Bay on Oct. 22 (LH); Northern Fulmar - 4 at East Point on approx. Nov. 13 in southeast gale (V L); UID Petrel - 1 at Cavendish beach on Nov. 4 (EMa); Greater Shearwater - 1 at East Point in northeast wind on Oct. 31 (EMa); UID Petrels - at East Point in northeast wind on Oct. 31 (EMa); Northern Gannet - approx. 25 mature and immature at Cape Tryon on Sept. 24 (JDM); American White Pelican - 1 at Cascumpec on Sept. 4 (BR); American Bittern - l at Pleasant View on Jun. 9 & 10 (J31); Little Blue Heron - 1 at Greenwich on Jul. 31 (1B1); Great Blue Heron - 1 at Hampton on Oct. 25 (JDM); Turkey Vulture - 1 or 2 reported on Oct. 24 at Guernsey Cove (AB), 1 at Cape Egmont on Oct. (GMa), 1 at Hampton on Oct. 16 (JDM); Canada Geese - approximately 1,000 in the Indian River and Long River to Spring Valley area on Oct. 9 (JDM), 300 offshore near sandbars at low tide at Victoria on Oct. 23 (JDM, WFB), 1,000 or more geese at Ellen's Creek, Charlottetown on Nov. 1 to 3 (JDM, LY), none seen in Watervale, Dromore, St. Andrew's on Nov. 2 (JDM), Orwell on Nov. 3 (JDM), 2,000 to 3,000 at Victoria beach on Nov. 5 (BH), flight of 2,000 to 2,500 at Spring Valley on Nov. 4 (JDM, WFB), 2,500 to 3,000 at Upton Road field on Nov. 6 to 8 and 1,500 on Nov. 8 (JDM); Green-winged Teal - male & female at Long Pond in late Oct. (RRM—HC), 4 at Indian River on Oct. 22 (EMa); American Black Duck - approx. 1,000 at Ellen's Creek on Nov. 1 to 3 (JDM); Mallard - 30 at Seaview on Oct. 22 (EMa); Pintail - male & female at Long Pond in late Oct. (RRM-HC), 4 at Indian River on Oct. 22 (EMa), 25 at Cavendish on Oct. 22 (EMa); Blue- winged Teal - male at Long Pond in late Oct. (RRM-HC); Gadwall - pair at Long Pond in late Oct. (RRM-HC), 10 at Indian River on Oct. 22 (EMa), 10 at Cavendish on Oct. 22 (EMa); American Wigeon - 4 at Indian River on Oct. 22 (EMa) ; Redhead - 2 males & 1 female at Borden on Oct. 13 (LH), 3 males

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