WEATHER EVENTS:

The most signiﬁcant event of the late summer was Hurricane Juan which hit in the wee hours of September 29‘“. By morning the full devastation was apparent with a state of emergency established for Borden-Carleton eastwards. Many large, historic trees were uprooted and broken. The winds which gusted to 138 km caused heavy structural damage to buildings, boats, vehicles, and utilities.

ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill & Lena Phillips

PLANTS: The frequent rains this summer have resulted in spectacular growth in many plants. In western PEI, some of the Spirea topped 6 feet in height rather than its usual 2 to 3 feet.

INSECTS: The very warm weather during September brought insects out later than normal. Cabbage White Butterﬂies were seen mudding along puddles.

AMPHIBIANS/REPTILES: Northern Leopard Frog were moving in good numbers in Donagh on rainy nights

in August and early September (JDM). The first record of a Pickerel Frog was found on the Island in Kings County (RH).

BIRDS: Wilson’s Storm-Petrel - 100 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMa), approximately 30 off shore between North Lake and East Point (LY, JDM, WFB); Leach’s Storm-Petrel - 4 off North Lake on Jul. 31 (LY, JDM, WFB); Northern Gannet - a large number at East Point on Jul. 6 (DK); Great Cormorant - a large number at East Point on Jul. 16 (DK), American Bittern - l seen ﬂying above the Hillsborough River side of the mudﬂats on Aug. 2 (DCS); Wood Ducks - 1 lone male seen in Mt. Stewart on Aug. 2 (DCS); Green-Winged Teal — numerous on the Hillsborough River side of the mudﬂats on Aug. 2 (DCS); Ring-Necked Duck— 1 at Borden on Jul. 5 (DCS), 1 at Borden on Jul. 6 (LH); Common Eider - a large number at East Point on Jul. 16 (DK), 300 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMa), ~30 at East Point on Aug. 21 (JDM); Surf Scoter - 4 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMa), 3 at East Point on Aug. 20 (JDM); White-winged Scoter - 2 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMA) & 15 on Aug. 21 (JDM); Black Scoter - 2 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMA) & 20 on Aug. 21 (JDM); Ruddy Duck - male and female at Borden on Jul. 4 (LH); Osprey - 2 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMA); Bald Eagle - numerous sightings; Northern Harrier - female at Wood Islands on Aug. 20, immature at North Lake & Cable Head on Aug. 21 (JDM); Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 at Bethel on Aug. 21 (JDM); Red-tailed Hawk - adult and immature calling and circling at Crapaud on Aug. 21 (JDM); American Kestrel - a number feeding young in nest box in Vernon River on Jul. 2 (DK), family raised at Johnston’s River this summer and they were actively hunting in August & early Sept. (JDM); Merlin - 1 at East Point on Jul. 27 (EMA); Peregrine Falcon - 1 at Black Marsh Trail on Jul. 1 (DCS); Gray Partridge - 4 at Bethel grain ﬁeld on Aug. 21 (JDM), 2 at Hartsville on Aug. 28 (LY, WFB); Ruffed Grouse - 1 at Hampton on Aug. 28 (LY, WFB, JDM); Sora - I responded to tape at Brackley on Jul. 6 (DCS); American Coot - Still residing on the Pigot Trail in Mt. Stewart on Aug. 2 (DCS); Black-bellied Plover - 5 at Brackley Marshes (north) ﬂying in formation on Jul. 26 (DCS), 9 at Red Head Harbour in Morell on Jul. 27 (EMA), 2 at the Brackley Marsh mudﬂats on Aug. 2 (DCS), numerous at Legion Shore on Aug. 4 (DCS) ; Semipalmated Plover - 55 at Red Head Harbour in Morell on Jul. 27 (EMA); Piping Plover - chicks are active at Covehead on Jun. 28 (DCS), 8 ﬂedglings and 4 adults at Souris Causeway on Jul. 16 (DK), 1 at the Red Head mudﬂats on Aug. 15 (DCS); Killdeer - 1 at Covehead Pond on Jun. 30 (DCS), 1 on the Hillsborough River side of the mudﬂats on Aug. 2 (DCS), 4 on lawn at Wood Islands Park on Aug. 20 (JDM); Greater Yellowlegs - very few on Jun. 26, began to appear in numbers on Jun. 27 at Brackley/Covehead (DCS), 3 at Covehead Pond on Jun.

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