WEATHER EVENTS:

Early winter brought a series of snows followed by heavy rains. A significant snow (20 cm) occurred on Dec. 3 with strong winds. Dec. 9 was bitter cold with —17 degrees C. and wind chills of ~40 degrees. The bitter cold laid down much ice in a short period and most small ponds and significant areas of salt water bays quickly froze. (IDM)

ANIIVIAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

PLANTS: Red oak scattered mature trees with significant oak regeneration and some ash in a wet forest area in Alaska

(EG, HI). Light yellow birch catkin crop present on scattered trees with seed present on top of the snow in the strong northerly wind (IDM, HI).

MAMNIALS:

l striped skunk on road at Mermaid on Feb. 8 (JDM). A flying squirrel still visiting Crossroads feeder on Nov. 24 (DO). Coyote crossing the road at Glenfanning on Nov. 9 (DO). The first Island record of a Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) was confirmed on August 17'“, 1999. The specimen was collected in Charlottetown where it was submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for disease testing.

BIRDS: Red-throated Loon ~ 4 at East Point on Nov. 28 (DO); Common Loon - 2 at Monticello on Nov. 8 (GM), 1 at East Point on Dec. 6 (DO); Northern Gannet - immature at East Point on Nov. 28 (DO), ~20 off East Point on Dec. 6 (DO), off Robinson‘s Island on Dec. 13 (DCS); Great Cormorant - 5 off East Point on Dec. 6 (DO), at East Point on Dec. 8 (DCS); Double-crested Cormorant - 1 immature at Midgell River on Dec. 6 (DO), 1 immature at North Rustico on Dec. 7 (DO, DCS), 3 at East Point on Dec. 8 (DCS), 1 at Fullerton's Marsh on Jan. 1 (JDM); Cormorant sp. - at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 10 (LT, RH); Great-blue Heron - 1 flew from pond to river in Bunbury on Jan. 7 (RT); Canada Geese - 1,200 in one flock travelling north from Summerside area on Dec. 13 (BR), 80 flying at French River on Dec. 13 (LH), 140 swimming at Brackley on Dec. 13 (LH), 12 at Hillsborough River on Dec. 27 (WFB, EM), many at Ellen's Creek on Dec. 31 (JB), 7 at North River on Feb. 24 (GK); White-fronted Goose - 1 at Harvey Moore's Sanctuary on Nov. 10 (DCS), 1 in Milton on Nov. 23 (EMa, DCS); Pink-footed Goose - 1 observed on Hillsborough River off Riverside Drive on Nov. 28 (DO) [FIRSTISLAND REPORT]; Green-winged Teal - 5 (3 males) at Ellen's Creek on Dec. 31 & Jan. 3 (JB); American Black Duck - many at Ellen's Creek on Dec. 31 & Jan. 3 (JB), 100+ at Belvedere Pond daily in mid-J an. (JDM); Mallard - 2 pair at Ellen's Creek on Dec. 31 & Jan. 3 (IB); Northern Pintail - 9 at Eamscliffe on Nov, 26 (DO); Gadwell - 1 at Ellen's Creek on Dec. 31 & Jan. 3, 5, 6, 11 (JB); Common Eider - main waterbird observed at East Point on Nov. 9 & 10 (DCS), 1 at Borden on Nov. 23 (EMa, DCS), off East Point on Dec. 6 (DO),; Long-tailed Duck - approx. 200 at East Point on Nov. 28 (DO), 1005 off East Point on Dec. 6 (DO), at Monticello on Dec. 14 (GM); Harlequin Duck - 1 at Rice Point on Nov. 23 (EMa, DCS), pair at East Point on Dec. 6 (DO), 1 on Dec. 8, 22, & 29 (DCS), 1 immature male at Cardigan on Jan. 22 (FRC); Black Scoter - one of main waterbirds observed at East Point on Nov. 9 & 10, Dec. 8, 22, & 29 (DCS), & Dec. 6 (DO); Surf Scoter - a few seen at East Point on Nov. 9 & 10, Dec. 8 & 22 (DCS); White-winged Scoter - a few seen at East Point on Nov. 9 & 10, Dec. 8 & 29, 3 at Stanhope on Dec. 13, & 8 at Robinson’s Island on Dec. 14 (DCS); Common Goldeneye - significant numbers at Oyster Bed Bridge on Jan. 10-12 (DCS), approx. 100 at Vernon Bridge on Jan. 28 (DK); .Barrow's Goldeneye - at West River Causeway on Jan. 4 (DCS), 4 at Oyster Bed Bridge on Dec. 7, Jan. 10-12 (DCS), 9 males & 8 females at Montague on Jan. 9 (PRO), 7 males & 4 females on Jan. 22 at Cardigan (FRC); Bufflehead - at Doyle's Cove approx. Jan. 10 (DCS), a pair at Souris West on Jan. 18 (DO); Hooded Merganser - 1 male at Midgell Bridge on Dec. 6 (DO), 1 female at Ellen's Creek on Jan. 5 & 11 (JB) & Mar. 1 (DCS); Common Merganser — 6 at Larkin‘s

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