COUNTING GOLDENEYE . . a..-

BARROW‘S GOLDENEYE SURVEYS. ' Al Smith of the Canadian Wildlife Sérvifian"~s’ackville,. New Brunswick has asked the 9.5.1. Natural History Society to participate in the Second annual census of over-wintering Barrow's Goldeneye. The Gulf of St..Lawrence forms the normal southern extent of the wintering range Of this species. .Last year surveys carried out by society members helped to establish the relative importance of open water 'holes’ around P.E.I. for Barrow's Goldeneye. ‘Considerably,waer were found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. ‘ ""’ l a This year's census dates are January 30 to February 7 inclusive. If‘you are '

interested in participating please contact Rosemary Curley at 651—2585 as soon as possible. I ' ‘ . ' ‘ 'm ' -

'mBarrow's Goldeneye are usually found in small numbers mixed with larger.flocks of Common Goldeneye, which is a common winter visitor to the Island._.Goldeneye in winter frequent open salt water and are most often observed at open 'holes' in rivers, bays, causeways and ruhs. Male Barrow's are distinguished by_the:crescent of white.on the side‘of the head and by the dark shoulder mark. Male-Common Goldeneye have a round face spot and lack the shoulder mark., In flight-male Common Goldeneye show more white on the-back and wings than do male.Barrow's;' Females of the two species are less easily distinguished but the female Common tends to have a somewhat sloping forehead while that of a Barrow's is morevert-icali At this time of year the female Barrow's also has a noticeably brighter yellow bill; especially at the tip. — v a

Common Goldeneye ~ . Barrow's Goldeneye . _ (male left, female right) (male left,,female right)

BIRD REPORT ; ‘ g --

Goshawk - l in Victoria Cross on Jan. 9 (EN).

" Gray Partridge r 7 at Orwell Head on Dec. 30 (BN); 4 on Union Road on Jan. 3 (RA); and in Milltown Cross a covey of 14 on Dec. 30 (LA) and Jan. 4(DH),ia covey of 7 on Jan. 4 (DH) and Jan. 5 (WEC), and a covey of ll on Jan. 9 (WEC): “

Mourning Dove - l in Dundas on Dec. 28 (BN).

Gray Jay ;_2 at.St. George‘s on Jan. 9 (EN). ‘ .m

Northern Shrike - l at Nine Mile Creek on Dec. 26 (AD). . :~’

Common Grackle - l in the Charlottetown area about Jan. 5 (CH);

Dark-eyed Junco h l in Milltown Cross on Jan. 4 and 2 in St. Marylsrhoad on Jan.

13 (wee). * _ a . ILL- ‘

Thanks to all observers who contributed records to this month's newsletter: Lenore Andrew (LA), Roger Andrew (RA), Winnie Cairns (WEC), Andy Dean (AD), Don Harris (DH), Geoff Hogan (GH), Brian Nettleton (BN).

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