5+ White-winged Crossbill - one individual perched in a tree long enough for all to get a decent look Purple Finch - small numbers also circling the point while calling overhead

The Blue Jay and American Robin flocks were also considerably smaller than the groups seen migrating on Oct.6

Dan Kennedy, Sharon Clark, Bonnie McOrmond, Jean Blanchard, Meika Keunecke, Les and Joan Homans, Eric Marcum and Dwaine Oakley participated in the field trip. After leaving East Point, Les, Joan, Meika, Eric and myself went to Hermanville to look for Sharp-tailed Grouse. We found 10 birds in total in the blueberry field with some even perching on the tops of spruce trees that made for better viewing much to Les' approval.

One last stop on the way home seen Les, Joan, Eric and myself at Tracadie Harbour but the only birds of interest were 2 Black-headed Gull (1 adult, 1 juvenile) and 1 Arctic Tern. We searched the group of Bonaparte Gulls but were unable to find the Little Gull or Black-legged Kittiwake that were previously seen here.

Overall it was a good trip had by all.

NHS BROCHURE REVISED:

Thanks to the efforts of Sharon Clark, the revision of the Society’s brochure has been completed. The brochure includes the Society’s speaker and event schedule for 2004-05 and is available at our meetings or by contacting Sharon (see page 2).

NEWSLETTER TO BRANCH LIBRARIES: adapted from Sharon Clark E-mails

In conjunction with Norma Collier of the Provincial Library System, Sharon Clark explored the potential for a trial distribution of the Island Naturalist to the Island’s 21 libraries. Thus, commencing with Issue #172, the Island Naturalist is now out in our local libraries. The Island Naturalist has been distributed for many years to both Robertson Library at U.P.E.I. and the Confederation Centre Library.

BIRD NAMES:

The latest changes in bird names were released in July by the American Ornithological Union. These changes are based on review of the genetics, recent taxonomical information, and other information. As the AOU name changes affect the listability of species, it impacts bird records as species are renamed, grouped, or split. The following change will potentially impact local bird sightings on Prince Edward: the Cackling Goose (Anser hutchinsii) has been split from and is now separate from the Canada Goose.

An earlier change resulted in the Rock Dove being named the Rock Pigeon.

PHENOLOGY:

The leaves of one branch on a sugar maple in Donagh changed to bright crimson while the balance were still green (JDM). Needles on larch in Donagh turned golden on Nov. 1 (JDM). Ponds iced over at Hunter River and Traveller’s Rest and the Grand River estuary at Wellington near the Rte 2 bridge was 75% iced over.