Rare bi rds a surprise 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Montague Christmas Bird Count again produced the greatest number of 
     
     species with 42, but the National Park Count (36 species) and the Hillsborough 
     
     Count (38 species) revealed some rarer birds that surprised the intrepid 
     
     observers of the day. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Starting with the National Park Count on December 23, birders were 
     
     gratified to find 2 Gannets and a Northern Shrike, as well as a Surf Scoter. 
     
     The best of treats was a Ruddy Trunstone that has been wintering near the 
     
     Maritime Electric Plant in Charlottetown, and highlighted the Hillsborough 
     
     Count. Two Common Loons were among the best sightings on the Montague Count. 
     
    
   
   
    
     All counts turned up some late migrants such as Great Blue Herons, 
     
     Northern Flickers, Song Sparrows and Grackles. The best publicized of these 
     
     out-of-sync birds was an American Robin that made the CBC National News on 
     
     December 27, both on evening and late night reports. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A few birds were recorded on only one of the three counts, for example 
     
     Gray Jay, Belted Kingfisher, and Glaucous Gull, but all counts had the usual 
     
     smatering of winter residents such as Blue Jays, Crows and Black-Capped 
     
     Chickadees. The largest congregations were of European Starlings at 
     
     Hillsborough Bridge, Snow Buntings at Earnscliffe, Black Ducks off the National 
     
     Park, and Oldsquaw and Red-Breasted Mergansers in St. Mary's and Cardigan Bays 
     
     respectively. 
     
    
   
   
    
     If there was one striking similarity in all the counts it was the absence 
     
     of hawks, falcons and buteos. Two unidentified hawks showed up on the National 
     
     .Park Count, and a possible (disputed) Osprey was found on the Hillsborough 
     
     Count, but the usual representation of Kestrels, Rough-legged and Red-tailed 
     
     Hawks and Goshawks didn't materialize. Raptor watchers had to settle for Bald 
     
     Eagles only! 
     
    
   
   
    
     Results are shown below in a manner to allow you to make your own 
     
     comparisons. ~ 
     
    
   
   
    
     P.E.I. National” Hillsborough Montague 
     
     Park, Dec. 20/86 Dec. 27/86 Jan. 3/87 
     
    
   
   
    
     Common Loon - - 2 
     
     Northern Gannet 2 - - 
     
     Great Cormorant - - 4 
     
     Double-Crested Cormorant - - 4 
     
     Cormorant Spp. - 1 - 
     
     Great Blue Heron 2 1 - 
     
     Canada Goose 6 - 25 
     
     Snow Goose - - 1 
     
     Mallard - - 11 
     
     Black Duck 423 217 292 
     
     Common Goldeneye 150 169 356