spontaneous call of a Long-eared Owl and the day was off to a flying or should I say "hooting" start. Shortly thereafter we obtained a Barred Owl, a Canada Goose, a Great-horned Owl, and then a Sora Rail. The walk to probing sites in Donagh to hopefully flush a Woodcock was unsuccessful.

In route to East Point, the silhouette of a Great Blue Heron in the glow of yard lights reflecting off the waters of St. Peter's Bay registered the first of the day’s herons. By now, the weather forecast was starting to come to fruition with the winds exceeding a stiff breeze. East Point brought almost gale force winds from the southwest and the southeastern sea was awash in white caps. A large flock of Common Eiders rode the sea’s turmoil between the white caps and calmer lee shore waters. A constant parade of mostly adult Northern Gannets swept by riding the gale winds as we sought shelter behind the gift shop. Within minutes, we seen a hawk-like shape whipping in from the sea and then we gazed upon the face mask and pointed wings of our first Peregrine Falcon of the day. From then on, the sightings built-up steadily until we reached the 79 confirmed species listed below: Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, American Bittern, Canada Geese, Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue—winged Teal, American Widgeon, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Bald Eagle (adult), Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon (adult and immature), Merlin, Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Sora, Killdeer, Black-backed Plover, Common Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Jaeger sp., Greater Black-backed Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, Common Tern, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Blue Jay, Common Raven, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Shrike, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Sparrow, Red- winged Blackbird, Rusty Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Savannah Sparrow, Northern Junco, White—throated Sparrow, and Song Sparrow.

The images of this day will be imprinted on our minds for many years to come. The raptor silhouette of an immature Peregrine Falcon casually watching us from 50 meters. The incredible beauty of this peregrine sweeping out to sea to return for its hunt along the cliff edge. Then the most memorable sighting of the day, a peregrine with the dark back of its prey grasped in its talons rising over the cliff edge to be met by the swoop of a Merlin which struck and clung to the other side of the 'Peregrine's intended meal. The tenacious Merlin struggled in flight with the Peregrine as each fought to pull the bird from the others talons. As with most struggles of this kind, the superior weight and strength of the peregrine won out and it winged away to consume its fought for meal.

By the birding day's end, the wind had risen to gale force. Amidst the wind driven rain, we struggled to keep our scopes and binoculars clear enough to see and continued our journey to include Basin Head East,

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