Despite the weather, we were able to hear both the Northern Saw-whet Owl and the Barred Owl near Morell. Souris Causeway was alive with waterfowl, gulls, and a few shorebirds and herons. Black Pond brought the first high light of the day with a group of Hooded Mergansers being sighted as soon as we stopped. Two of the bird were drakes in full plumage and they are spectacular looking birds. East Point brought the next rarity with two light brown sea ducks with well marked feather edges drawing our scrutiny and making us resort to the field guides that we had brought along. The eider profile and shape of the bill combined with a line above the eye and the distinct feather edges brought us to the conclusion that we had two first year King Eiders riding the swells in the relative calm near the north side of the cliffs. An approach to the woods brought a blue grey flash of colour and the upturned tail of first one Blue-grey Gnatcatcher and then four others as they responded to our spishing, coming as close as 15 feet.

Many stops were made for woodland and marsh birds but it was a poor day for these groups. Kinglets, chickadees and Yellow-rumped Warblers were every where. Black Ducks were very common as were Great Black-backed, Herring, and Ring-billed Gulls. Shorebirds were more difficult with a few small groups being found in several areas. A wonderful sighting of a Sharp-tailed Grouse in East Cable Head and the spectacular colours of a drake Wood Duck added to the days memories. An excursion down the Greenwich Peninsula did not yield the Short-eared Owls that had been reported but did bring the first good sized group of robins for the day and a Mourning Warbler skulking in the lower shrubbery near some blowdowns.

Our journey through St. Andrews and Donaldston were unremarkable but John Archies yielded an Eared Grebe and our final stop beside Covehead Bridge brought Caspian Terns and White-rumped Sandpipers as the setting sun turned the dark clouds crimson to draw this new day of birding to a close with 81 species.

The species recorded during the day were as follows: Eared Grebe, Pied—billed Grebe, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Gadwell, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue—winged Teal, American Widgeon, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Oldsquaw, Common Eider, King Eider, White—winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Sharp— shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Merlin, American Kestrel, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Golden Plover, Black—bellied Plover, Common Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Ring—billed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Gray Jay, Blue Jay, Common Raven, American Crow, Black- capped Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Golden— crowned Kinglet, Ruby—crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, House Sparrow, Red—winged Blackbird, Purple Finch, American Goldfinch, Savannah Sparrow, Northern Junco, Chipping Sparrow, White—throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow.

NEWS FROM ABOUT: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill

Since 1978 the Baillie Memorial Fund for Bird Research has provided over $300,000 in grants to some 273 projects. These projects contributed to the study and preservation of Canadian birds and their habitats. The grants range from $200 to $3,000. The next deadline is January 25th. Contact the Secretary, James L. Baillie