Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harrier, Osprey, Merlin, American Kestrel, Ruffed Grouse, Virginia Rail, Sora, Semi-palmated Plover, Piping Plover, Killdeer, Lesser Golden Plover, Black-bellied Plover, American Woodcock, Common Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Semi- palmated Plover, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Greater Black-back Gull, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Black Guillemot, Rock Dove, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-shafied Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Peewee, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow, Grey (Boreal) Chickadee, Winter Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Veery, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, European Starling, Tennessee Warbler, Northern Parula, Cape May Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Canada Warbler, House Sparrow, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Savannah Sparrow, Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, and Lincoln's Sparrow.

Any day like this brings wonderful moments that excite ones imagination. The first of these moments came in a hollow on the Peter's Road between Churchill and Emyvale. We were playing owl response tapes and were having a wonderful time as it was an incredibly clear night with the sky brightly lit by a panorama of stars. The owls were responding better with each stop and at this one we sensed a shadow flitting between the trees. Suddenly, a Barred Owl started calling immediately beside us. Another taped call was played. Then, in the hushed silence with our breaths held in check, there they were. Two Barred Owls flared into the space over our heads and landed beside us in the trees while calling back loudly.

Several hundred metres from North Cape, three birds in the water brought us to a halt. Two male and a female Harlequin were located on the sheltered waters only a few hundred metres off shore. A first record for Roberta. Then, just around the point, several pairs of Black Guillemot were seen landing on the cliff face and scrambling into nesting crevices.

Near Miminegash, Eric spotted a Northern Mockingbird and we all had a good chance to observe it clearly. It was in nesting habitat but there was no sign of a second mockingbird. Just south of the entrance to West Point Harbour, Roberta spotted a very large heron like bird, an egret. As binoculars and scopes swung to bear on it, it lified its feet very cooperatively to display the black feet thus confirming it as a Great Egret. It added further to the display of its identity by opening its long neck hairs as it moved and fished along the section of the river. Still another great bird for the Island.

The rain started in mid-aflernoon in western Prince Edward Island and we played tag with it as we moved east to finish the day at Robinson's Island and Covehead Marsh. Our try for a Wilson's Phalarope, Ruddy Turnstone, and Sanderling seen earlier in the week in this area was unsuccessful. However, Sharp-tailed Sparrows were vociferous on the marsh, a Ring-necked Pheasant strutted along the mowed grass beside the causeway to Robinson‘s Island, and a flock of Caspian Tems sat on the innermost sandbar. All in all, a great days birding, mostly in new territory for a Bain Bird Count day.

NEW FIELD CHECKLIST 0F BIRDS RELEASED:

FIELD CHECKLIST or The Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment B 1 8 completed the editing and printing of the 6th Edition of the Prince -—-—==- Edward Island Field Checklist of Birds. This 1998 revision to the list was completed by Dan McAskill and Ray Cooke who extended a gang? special thanks to Rosemary Curley, Randy Dibblee, Les Homans, tgfifimd Barry Martin, Scott Makepeace, Bruce Pigot, Dwayne Sabine, and

.... n

Donald Wilkinson for their comments on the drafi version. They also extended a special thanks to all the birders who took the time to submit their sightings to the Natural History Society, the Fish and Wildlife Division or other bodies keeping bird records.

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