FIRST P.E.I. - :3" RECORD FOR

LESSER BLACK-

BACKED GULL

by Geoff Hogan, Springvaie

On 2 January 1983 four members of the NHS, Joyce Mac Leod, Vicki Friesen, Tim Birt and Geoff Hogan, observed an aduit Lesser Biack-backed Gui] (Larus fuscus) on MacLure's Creek, an upper reach of Murray River, Kings County, thus constituting the first known sighting of this Oid Morid species on P.E.I. When first seen, the guii was standing aione on the ice but iater joined a nearby fiock of Herring Guiis. Exceiient viewing was possibie from a distance of a few hundred meters for approximateiy 20 minutes using binocuiars and a 20x spotting scope. Severai photographs were taken.

The Lesser Biack-backed Gui] is native to northern Russia, Iceiand, Britain and Europe with many individuais wintering aiong the Mediterranean and North Africa. It resembies our own Great Biack-backed Gui] in coioration but is siightiy smaiier than a Herring Gui]. A diagnostic characteristic is that the iegs of the Lesser Biack-backed Gui] are yeiiow, not fiesh-coiored, as they are on the Great Biack-backed and Herring guiis.

Nhiie Lesser Biack-backed Guiis have been reported previousiy in North America from the Atiantic provinces south to Fiorida, additiona] sightings are unusua] and noteworthy.

CHRISTMAS ‘ MAMMAL COUNTS

Once again mammai counts were heid in conjunction with the annua] Christmas Bird Counts. Unfortunateiy the iack of snow cover and iess ice than norma], especia]iy on the first two counts, made it difficuit to detect anima] tracks and other sign. Nevertheiess the foiiowing species were recorded.

P.E.I. Nationa] Park (Dec. 18, 1982) Hiiisborough Count (Dec. 27, 1982)

1 Harbour Sea] 1 sea] sp. 1 sea] sp. 1 Red Fox 6 Red Squirre] 6 Red Squirre] 'mouse' sign 1 Muskrat 1 'mouse‘ Montague Count (Jan. 2, 1983) . 10 Harbour Sea] % caterp111ar ' - pussyWiiiow

7 Grey Sea]

1 Snowshoe Hare (pius many tracks) 5 Red Squirrei (pius many tracks) 1 Muskrat

1 Nease] (tracks oniy)

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