of them in a loose bunch travelling together, and if they had not been 
     
     going the other way, I doubt if I would have given them a second glance. 
     
     Long, tapered wings like a glider, dark above and white below, with 
     
     a dark collar over the neck was all I could make out before they disap— 
     
     peared below the crest of a towering wave. They were of the same general 
     
     shape as the gannets but only about half the size. There was only one 
     
     bird I knew that fit the description...Greater Shearwater! 
     
     I could not believe my good fortune. Within the space of two hours 
     
     I had seen four of the seven pelagic species that I thought I had a chance 
     
     of seeing on my planned boat trip. And all from the comfort of a warm car 
     
     seat. 
     
     I finally had to give up my seawatch about noon, having run out of 
     
     windshield washer fluid trying to keep the salt off the front window. 
     
     The birds were mostly gone by then though, with the gannets down to a trickle 
     
     and the wind dropping off somewhat, but still blowing a respectable gale. 
     
     Despite being a little disappointed that the need for a ferry trip 
     
     had been rendered academic by the gale, I was quite satisfied to say the 
     
     least. I had saved $30 on boat fare, added three species to my P.E.I. list, 
     
     and when I thought about it, I realized I probably would have been sea— 
     
     sick on the ferry anyway. (If indeed it sailed at all that day.) 
     
     Except for irish moss gatherers, and fishermen who had to seek shelter 
     
     for their boats, I doubt if the gale will long linger in anyone's mind 
     
     as being of major importance. As for myself, I have arbitrarily dubbed it 
     
     the Cable Head Gale, and will always remember it it as the day I went pel— 
     
     agic birding from my car. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Note: Webster's dictionary, by the way, defines a gale as a wind be- 
     
     tween 32 and 63 miles an hour. The Beaufort scale indicates winds from 
     
     47 to 54 mph constitute a strong gale, with winds over 54-and up to 63 
     
     mph making a whole gale. 
     
    
   
   
    
     .77me is (1131123)] near 
     
    
   
   
    
     It's getting near 
     
     that time again. 
     
     NHS members can 
     
     renew their mem- 
     
     berships for 1987 
     
     in January or as 
     
     soon as possible. 
     
     We're also looking 
     
     for new members, 
     
     and you can help 
     
     by giving someone 
     
     a gift membership. 
     
     It makes a great 
     
     gift and who knows 
     
     what it might 
     
     start. You can see 
     
     Margaret at the 
     
     next NHS meeting, 
     
     or drop her a note >AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. 
     
     at the address in 
     
     the box. Thanks 
     
     very much. 
     
    
   
   
    
     'Vl\f\7\7\I\7\7\7\7\f\7\7\7\7\7‘7\7\7\f‘l‘f‘l‘f‘l\7\7\f\7‘7\7‘f\7\7\7‘f\7\7\/\7\f‘l\f‘f\f‘i§2\7\7‘f\7‘"7‘7‘1'g 
     
    
   
   
    
     A 
     
    
   
   
    
     RENEWAL, NEW MEMBERSHIP, OR GIFT MEMBERSHIP 
     
     Just send in a piece of paper the size of this box. 
     
     GIVE: Name 
     
     Mailing Address 
     
     Postal Code 
     
     Telephone Number 
     
     Rates: Regular - $4; Student - $2; Family - $5 
     
    
   
   
    
     Address: Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy St., Ch'town 
     
     P.E.I. ClA iR4 
     
    
   
   
    
     VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV\ 
     
    
   
   
    
     AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA