I 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     lommon Murre 
     
    
   
   
    
     Gordon and Joan Taylor from Vernon River are caring for a Common Murre which they 
     
     found heavily cover with thick oil after the storm in early December. Joan has 
     
     promised us an article for the newsletter on her interesting experiences in 
     
     caring for her unusual pelagic visitor. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Bohemian Waxwin s 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Mr. C. Willms of East Royalty saw a flock of l7 Bohemian Waxwings in his backyard 
     
     on December 27. He also saw waxwing flocks of IO - l2 and 30 - no on several 
     
    
   
   
    
     occasions near the keppoch Road. He was not able to determine whether any of 
     
     these were Bohemian Waxwings. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Paul Doiron of South Winsloe saw a flock of Bohemian Waxwings on January I, I976. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Common Redpolls 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mr. C. Willms has observed a flock of approximately l00 redpolls in Southport for 
     
     the last three weeks of December. They used to feed on seeds on the ground until 
     
     the snow came. He last noticed them on the t0p of a birch tree eating the buds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     John Wright on December 25 had 30 - #0 Redpolls in his yard and garden in Rocky Point. 
     
     He suspects that they have been there for the past three weeks. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy and Clare Martin during the Christmas Bird Count on December 27 saw ll Redpolls 
     
     actively feeding along the side of the road at Earnscliffe. 
     
    
   
   
    
     If you have sighted any unusual birds in the field or at your feeder, write or call 
     
     Rosemary Curley, P.0. Box 2000, Charlottetown, Phone 892-hl2l or 892-68h3 (home) or 
     
     Margaret Mallett, 53 Fitzroy Street, Charlottetown, Phone 894-9595. 
     
    
   
   
    
     To give a historical perspective to the Redpoll and Snowy Owl sightings, I have 
     
     included excerpts from Francis Bain's book, l'Birds of Prince Edward Island.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     - Kathy Martin 
     
     Biology Department 
     
     University of Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     REDPOLLS 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Red-poll Linnet (Egiothus linaria) is one of our common winter birds, though 
     
     Some Winters it is scarcely seen at all. In size it is less than a Sparrow; color 
     
     above dusky streaked with flaxen; crown dull crimson; under parts white, heavily 
     
     streaked with dusky. Males, in late winter, may be seen with rosy breasts and 
     
     rumps. In autumn these little birds come in compact flocks wandering from grove to 
     
     grove in search of the ripened seeds of the yellow birches. 0n the swaying top of 
     
     one of these great trees they make a happy company, riflingthe abundant seeds and 
     
     keeping each other society with soft, sweet whispered notes. Sometimes a solitary 
     
     bird will get separated from the flock, then the loud pc - ceI rings through the 
     
     autumn sky, and it is repeated until an answer comes and the wanderer is restored to 
     
     the bosom of the loving flock. In cold winter weather the birds crowd close together, 
     
     as if for warmth. They come about haystacks for seeds, and will fearlessly alight 
     
    
   
   
    
     upon the loads which the farmer is building, having the innocence of creatures 
     
     fresh from the untenanted wilds of nature. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Sometimes a rare specimen stays with us all summer and builds its nest in the dark 
     
    
   
   
    
     fir thicket. Then the song of the male is a full, rattling melody, like that of 
     
     the “Linnet,” and scarce less clear and vigorous. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     OWLS 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     In Prince Edward Island we have seven Owls, all fluffy grey, or brown, lovers of the 
     
     darkness, seeking their prey during the shadowy hours and hiding in the darkest 
     
     thickets during the day. The Great Snowy Owl alone hawks over the crystal fields 
     
    

    
     of winter in broad daylight. It is an Arctic bird coming down from the desolate 
     
     regions of Labrador only during the severest weather to search for mice, shrews, and 
     
    
   
   
    
     other small quadrupeds on our less deeply inundated fields. Its plumage is white 
     
     wuth dusky spots.