5. It was able to wade in water slightly deeper than that which the Greater Yellowlegs were in ( at 
     
     all times it stayed within 5 feet of the Greater Yellowlegs). 
     
     Considerations: The dark legs and bill shape and size appeared to rule out Ruff, Redshank or Greenshank 
     
     despite the belief (Ray Cooke — personal communication) that one of these birds may have been sighted in the 
     
     same location just days before. Bill shape, size and colouration would rule out most other shorebirds with the 
     
     exception of the Godwit Species. A white rump and black tail band would rule out Bar-tailed Godwit leaving 
     
     2 species to be considered. Hudsonian Godwits have a dark under-wing thus eliminating this species from 
     
     consideration. This leaves Black-tailed Godwit as a consideration. To my knowledge this species has only 
     
     reported once before on PEI — at Cymbria. Black-tailed Godwits range in size from 12 to 15 inches which 
     
     indicates that this some members of this species can be just slightly larger than a Greater Yellowlegs. The bill 
     
     size, shape and colouration taken into consideration along with the white rump, black tail and white under- 
     
     wings are entirely consistent with Black-tailed Godwit. The fact that a few alternate plumage feathers were still 
     
     on this bird and other feathers had a “worn” appearance to them further suggests that this was an adult Black- 
     
     tailed Godwit. I am attempting to determine if the sub~species can ultimately be identified. 
     
     Vocalizations/Photos: None Heard/Taken 
     
     Conclusion: Basic Plumaged adult Black-tailed Godwit of undetermined sex. 
     
     IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES USED 
     
     The Sibley Guide to Birds. 1“ edition, second printing. D. Sibley. 2001; National'Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America. 3'‘1 
     
     Edition; Shorebirds — An Identification Guide. P. Hayman; J. Marchant; T. Prater.l986; Audubon Society Master Guide to Birds. 
     
     Volume 1 — Loons to Sandpipers. J. Farrand. 1983; Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. D. Paulson. 1993; Photographic Guide to the 
     
     Shorebirds of the World. D. Rosair; D. Cottridge. 1995; Wading Birds of the World. E. Soothill; R. Soothill. 1982; The Birds of 
     
     Canada. Revised Edition. W.E. Godfrey. 1986; Birds of Eastern and Central North America. 5‘h Edition. 2002; Lives of North American 
     
    
   
   
    
     Birds. K. Kaufman. 1996; Birds of Ontario. .1, Hughes. 2001; http://www.oceanwanderers.com/NYBlacktailedGodwithtml; 
     
    
   
   
    
     http://www.oceanwanderers.com/AsiaticBTGodwit.html; http://www.hawfinches.freeserve.co.uk/Godwitldentification.pdf, 
     
     http://vnvw.oceanwanderers.com/NYBarTailGodwit.html; 
     
    
   
   
    
     http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Idtips/h2520id.html 
     
    
   
   
    
     Editor’s Note: This article represents a less technical description of this bird record the original version was 
     
     filed with the Society’s bird records. 
     
    
   
   
    
     WEATHER EVENTS: 
     
    

    
     A northeaster with winds hitting 80 to 90 km per hours and gusts of 115 to 145 km per hour dropped 55 cm 
     
     of snow in Charlottetown on Dec. 27‘h causing the postponement of the Hillsborough Christmas Bird Count. 
     
     Significant flooding was caused by a tidal surge at Savage Harbour and a number of wharfs and structure were 
     
     either inundated or damaged by the ice and storm surge waves at Basin Head, Crowbush (Lakeside), Panrnure 
     
     Island, Tracadie, Lew London. Heavy rains and temperatures of 8 to 13 degrees centigrade led to a winter 
     
     thaw on Jan. 12‘“. This was followed by unprecedented snows falls, 3 sequential nor’easters with winds of up 
     
    
   
   
    
     to 100+ km dropped 111 cm of snow in the eight days between Jan. 17th and Jan. 25‘“ leaving snow banks of 
     
     300+ cm and almost center bare fields. ‘ 
     
    
   
   
    
     ANIMAL AND PLANT SIGHTINGS: Compiled by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     PLANTS: 
     
    

    
     The white spruce cone crop was abundant this past autumn 
     
     creating good foraging conditions for cone feeding birds and 
     
     mammals. There were good crops of false holly, mountain 
     
    
   
   
    
     ash, and wild rose in some areas while low amounts in others 
     
     (JDM). 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     13