Swainson•Hawk, andSported Redshank. four Great Egretsand three Yellow- had its first Mountain crownedNight-Herons. had Atlantic Bluebird and second Sandwich Tern. New- two Great, one Cattle, and two Snowy foundland had its first Connecticut War- egrets,and three Little BlueHerons and blerand second Say's Phoebe. Good num- oneYellow-crowned Night-Heron. New- Provinces bersof Dickcissels,Lark Sparrows, and Yel- foundlandreported one Great Egret, while low-headedBlackbirds, plus a singleLark SaintPierre et Miquelonhad a flockof Bunting,added a westernflavor across the threeCattle Egrets. Region.It wasthe bestyear for Black- Region headedGulls in fiveyears in Newfound- Waterfowl land,and a Yellow-legged Gull returned. Out-of-rangegeese in e. included a Brant at Arnold's Cove Nov. Abbreviations: GMI (Grand Manan 9-30+(BMt et al.), and an elusiveif con- Island);SPM (St.Pierre et Miquelon). fusedSnow Goose with HerringGulls at BRUCE MACTAVISH the St.John's dump Aug. 25-Nov. 30+ (JS Birdwatching activity is escalatingin the Loons to Herons et al.). A strayWood Duck frequented St. Region.Each year new information isadded A pairof Red-throatedLoons with two small John•,NF Nov. 8-30+ (BMt et al.). The to a maturingfoundation of knowledge.Fif- youngwas observed at Miquelon,SPM, first"Eur." Green-winged Teals of the fall teenyears ago every Prairie Warbler and Yel- whereone-two pairs nest annually (PH). An weresingle males detected as molt revealed low-breastedChat was noteworth• In 1996 earlyHorned Grebe was at Pocologan,NB racial identitiesat Ferrylandand it wasdifficult to keeptrack of theindividu- Aug.19 (MP,SM). SingleCory's Shearwa- Broyle,NF Nov. 2 (RF, BMt, JWe). Per- alsseen. Only rough totals by province were tersoff NovaScotia were seen on a pelagic hapsa record-highRegional count of 200 attainablefor this report.No longerare trip Aug.9 (fideSF) andoff EcumSecum Gadwall was tallied in the lower Tantra- Prairiesand chats chance encounters. They Aug.15 (JT).Greater Shearwater migration marR., NB Sept.1 (AB).The goodnum- aremore or lessbyproducts of birdingfor isdifficult to determineby landlubbing bird- bersof Eur. Wigeon in recentautumns rarersouthern warblers and other vagrants. ers.Observers working on fishing boats offs. continuedwith oneOct. 5 & 24 at Long Althoughsome complained of slow periods Nova Scotia noted decreases in Greater Pond, PEI (DM et aL); two at Mason duringthe season, the cumulative list of rar- Shearwaternumbers after August. On Ban- Pond and two at Dartmouth, NS, in late itieswas inspiring. quereauBank, 2500 GreaterShearwaters November(fide BMy); and a totalof nine There was one new speciesfor the July28-Aug. 23 decreasedto 1000by the at various locations on the Avalon Pen., Region--aDusky Flycatcher in Nova Sco- end of September(DS), andon George's NF, duringNovember (BMt, KK et al). tia! In the sameleague of exoticawas a Bankhundreds Aug. 17 haddecreased to Veryrare in the Region,a 9 Canvasback Groove-billedAni. The sameprovince also 200 byOct. 28 (RD).A lateGreater Shear- wasat New Minas,NS Nov. 26-29 (fide chalkedup its thirdLe Conte'sSparrow, a water was seen from Brier [., NS Nov. 13 BMy). The onlyTufted Ducks seen were (IM, EM). The largest individualsat BrierI., NS Nov. 12 (fide shearwater count was BMy) anda returningbird at Dartmouth, 3000 Greater and 5000 NS Nov. 24-30+ (m.ob.).The suggestion Sooty shearwatersoff by someobservers that LesserScaup may GMI, NB Sept.21 (DC be increasingin the Regionis backedby etal.). The largest concen- largeflocks of 20 Nov. 2 at LongPond, tration of Manx Shearwa- PEI (RP), and 23 in late Novemberat Bis- terswas near the suspect- set L., Dartmouth,NS (fideBMy). An ed breedingcolony on unseasonableHarlequin Duck lingered at Columbier I., SPM, with SouthwestHead, GMI, NB Aug.7-Sept. 50Aug. 16 and15 as late 3 (BD etal.). For the first time in a decade as Oct. 22 (RE et al). A therewas a significantflight of Ruddy reportof a Band-rumped Ducksinto the Region.New Brunswick Storm-Petrelon George's had 4 reports totaling 35 birds Oct. Bank,NS, in lateAugust 20-Nov. 1 (m.ob.); Nova Scotia'shigh wasapparently well seen, count was 26 Nov. 23 at Bisset L., Dart- but unfortunatelylacked mouth (m.ob.); PrinceEdward Island had details. Storm-driven 3 reportstotaling five birds Oct. 24-Nov. Leach• Storm-Petrels were 2 (m.ob.), and St. Pierre et Miquelon notedat Cap Bimet,NB, recordedits firstthree since 1980 (BB). :"' 'NEW•/'%• with 300 Sept.15 (ST) BRUNSWICK• and at Holyrood, NF, Raptors to Cranes with 500 Oct. 30 (BMt). Nova Scotia's 7th Black Vulture was at •'•,•Ft•ed•lon Sackville.•mher• A late Leach's Storm- BeaverDam, Shelbourne, Aug. 16-18 (fide Petrelflew past Cape St. MN). TurkeyVultures were widely report- Francis, NF, during a ed in New Brunswick.Numerous reports stormNov. 16 (BMt). fromw. NovaScotia were eclipsed by daily Vagrantherons num- counts of_<20 on Brier I., Oct. 12-Nov. berswere about average. 14 (MH etal.).Stragglers ranged to Crow- • New Brunswick had bush,PEI Aug.13 (RC) andCape Breton

VOLUME 51, NUMBER I FIELD NOTES 17 I., NS Oct. 12 (fideBMy). An increasein countof 1400White-rumped Sandpipers only Mew Gullsfound were three adults the number of reports of Cooper's at Paul I. near Nain, Labrador, Oct. 20 in St. John's,NF, includinga returning Hawk--6 from Nova Scotia and 5 from waspossibly a groundingcaused by an bird which was banded in Iceland in 1990 New Brunswick--suggestan actual unseasonablesnowstorm Oct. 17 (BMt). (BMt et al.). increase in numbers. Red-shouldered The wellabove-average total of 13 Baird's Hawk sightingsin NovaScotia were one Sandpipersfound in New Brunswickwas Sept.5 at Harmony,Queens (SC et al.), not reflectedin the restof the Region; SA Anad. Yellow-legged Gull and one adult and two immatures Oct. 21 onlyfour werereported in NovaScotia. 4"• frequented farm fields on at Brier I. (MH). Kettlesof <125 Broad- Very rare but annual in the Region, the outskirtsof St. John's,NF Oct. wingedHawks were observed at BrierI., CurlewSandpiper was seen at Dominion 24-Nov. 30+ (BMt, KK,RF, PL etal.). Identification was based on mantle NS, in lateSeptember (MH etal.).An ad. Beach,Cape Breton I., NS Sept.20 (AL, color,slightly paler than Lesser light-morphSwainsons Hawk watched in CM). It wasa verypoor season for Stilt Black-backedGull Larusf. graellsii; a kettleof Broad-wingedHawks at Brier Sandpiper,with the only report being two legs,bright yellow; size, near that of I., NS Oct. 1 was well described(MH). at CapeSable I., NS Sept.21 (MN). Buff- HerringGull, bulky body build; head, Immature Golden Eagles were at breastedSandpipers were in lownumbers, large with fiat crownand steepfore- Langlade,SPM Sept. 28 (MB) and at with 5 of the 9 reportsRegionwide com- head;orbital ring brilliantvermilion; BrierI., NS Oct. 21 (MH). PeregrineFal- ing fromNova Scotia. The onlyRuff was and broadHerring Gull-like shaped conswere widely reported, with thehigh- at EasternShore, NS Sept. 15-22 (fide wingsin flight. The headstreaking estcount, typically at SealI., NS, being BMy). Long-billedDowitcher reports was confinedto a cap of fine pale eight Oct. 3 (BMy et al.). Gyrfalcons wereat parwith two at Sackville,NB Aug. gray dasheson the crownforehead reportedduring peak Peregrine migration 20 (RM), oneat Gray'sBrook Marsh, NB and ear covertsin October,which weresingles Sept. 29 at SealI., NS (BMy Sept.7-8 (AC, SN), and oneat Crescent had almost completelydisappeared et al.) and Oct. 11 at Cap de Cochene, Beach,NS Sept. 9 (SC). Are Wilson's by late November. Thisis thoughtto be the samebird NB (JE). Phalaropesbecoming rarer? The only seen on the same farm fields in Octo- A ClapperRail wascarefully identified reportwas one at BrierI., NS Sept.1 (fide ber 1995, and later identifiedas a Yel- at BearCove, NF Oct. 19 (PL, RF, JWe); BMy).The Bay of Fundyis the "Phalarope low-leggedGull when it appearedat a however,a large rail showingbright rusty Capital"of the Region.Whale-watching localcity lake after freezeup in De- epauletsflushed 3 timesat CapeRace, NF trips off Brier I., NS, produced10,000 cember 1995. PreviousYellow-legged Oct. 12 wasquite possibly the much rarer Red-neckedand 2000 Red phalaropes July Gullsin the Region,all fromSt. John's, KingRail (TB, KK, PL).An imm.Purple 26 (fideFS), and off Grand Manan I., NB, NF,are: Jan. 16-April 15, 1985 and Gallinulewas picked up in poorcondition "many hundreds" of Red-necked Dec.26, 1994-Feb. 16, 1995. in FundyN.P., NB Oct. 19 OqdeDC). PhalaropesAug. 27 (STet al.). SandhillCrane sightings were average, with two Sept.11-13 at Flatlands,NB (T. Jaegersto Alcids Lesser Black-backed Gull totals by Gray), one Oct. 18-Nov. 1 at Welch New Brunswick'sfirst "reallywell-docu- provincewere two in NewBrunswick, one Cove,NB (CJ),and one Aug. 28 at North mented"Great Skua was photographed, in Nova Scotia, and five in Newfound- R., NS (fideBMy). videotaped, and well seen by 20 observers land. A first-winter Sabine's Gull was a on ProprietorShoal, GMI, NB Sept.21 treat at Cap Bimet, NB Sept. 15 & 19 Shorebirds (m.ob.).No detailswere received for any (ST). New Brunswick's 2nd Sandwich High countsof Am. Golden-Ploverwere otherskua sightings. Other GreatSkua Ternwas a latebird Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in the 260 Sept.23 at Miquelon,SPM (LJ),and reportswere three Aug. 20 and oneOct. Cap Bimet,Northhumberland Strait (CC 200 Oct. 20 Earnscliffe, PEI (DM). A 26 at George'sBank, NS (RD), and a et al.). There is a belatedreport of an staggering2700 SemipalmatedPlovers probablefrom the Princess of Acadiaferry importantnew nestingsite for Roseate werecounted at CherryHill Beach,NS in the Bayof FundyAug. 31 (IC). South Tern foundat CountyI., Guysborough, Aug. 25 (SF). The American Avocet PolarSkua reports were one Aug. 9 off NS, with 45 pairspresent July 5 (SB).A found at Saint Rest Marsh, Saint John, Halifax,NS (fideSF) andnine probable Forster's Tern was at Cole Harbor, NS NB July30 remaineduntil Aug. 9 (AR et lateJuly-late September on Banquereau Oct. 28 (IM). A LeastTern wasidentified al.). A SpottedRedshank was well seen Bank,NS (DF). at CaribouI., NS, causewayAug. 8 (CH) and described at Crescent Beach, NS The only LaughingGulls beyond the EastPoint, PEI, had a provincially-rare Aug.5for a 6th provincialrecord (BF). summer seasonwere one at Port Morien, AtlanticPuffin Sept. 4 (S. Ruer)and an Anotherprobable Spotted Redshank was NS Sept.26-Oct. 6 (AM, CM), and one earlyDovekie Oct. 5 (L. Doan). seenat Hillsborough,NB Aug.23 (J.Tan- in Dartmouth,NS Oct.4 (fideIM). Little ner). Migrant Upland Sandpiperswere Gullswere, as usual, found mostly in the Cuckoosto Starling singlesAug. 31-Sept. 1 CapeSable I., NS, w. portionsof the Region:one at Beres- Provincial totals for Yellow-billed Cuckoo andOct. 6 HartlandPt., NS (fideBMy). ford, NB Aug. 5 (PD); one nearThe included one in New Brunswick,seven in The CapeSable I., NS, MarbledGodwit, Wolves,NB Aug. 15 (RT); one2nd-win- Nova Scotia, and one in Newfoundland presentsince summer, was last seen Nov. ter at Cap Bimet,NB Sept.19 (ST); one SingleBlack-billed Cuckoos, the rarer 14 (MN et al.). Another was at well- first-winterat Cap Bimet,NB Sept.25 cuckoo in Newfoundland, were seen at watchedSaint Rest Marsh, NB Aug.3-30 (JE);a "couple"in lateSeptember at GMI, Bear Cove and ChanceCove Sept. 28 (JWi et al.). WesternSandpiper reports NB (fideDC); andone at GlaceBay, NS (BMt, JWe). An apparentGroove-billed includedindividuals at Mary'sPt., NB Sept.20 (fideBMy). The Black-headed Ani was identifiedafter severalfleeting Aug. 15 & 17 (CD et al.); Brackley,PEI Gull migrationat St.John's, NF, peakedat viewsand being captured on videotape at Oct. 5 (RC et al.); and Earnscliffe, PEI 135 Nov. 6, well above recent fall totals White's L., NS Sept. 16-Oct. 1 (PM) Oct 20 (DM, BB) An unexpectedly-highbut on parwith thelate 1980s(BMt) The Thereare 2 previoussight records of anis

FIELDNOTES SPP•NGx997 in theRegion, probably Groove-billed and 22-27 (JWeet al.). Comparativelyroutine wasout of r•nge and habitat atCape Race, both from Nova Scotia. A few Snowy weresingles at SealI., NS Sept.17 (fide NF Oct. 12 (BMt, JWe).There was not an Owlsappeared at theend of Novemberin BMy) andGMI, NB Sept.21 (BD). War- incursion of N. Cardinals to match the fall New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and blingVireos straying E to Newfoundland 1995; however,there was an unusualnum- SaintPierre et Miquelon.The only Red- includedone Sept. 21 & 28 at BearCove ber of family groups coming to New headedWoodpecker was on Whitehead I., (PL, KK) andone Sept. 23 at Blackhead Brunswick and Nova Scotia feeders in NB Oct.27 (PP). The annual late-fall (BMt).A PhiladelphiaVireo at Cappahay- August,which no doubtwere offspring influx of Red-belliedWoodpeckers was den,NF Nov.2 providedthe latest record fromthe 1995immigration. The onlyBlue only an echoof lastyear, with totalsof forthe province (RF, BMt). Grosbeakswere three on Seal I., NS Oct. two in New Brunswick and two in Nova Goodnumbers of Blue-wingedWarblers 1-11. It wasa banneryear for Dickcissels, Scotia.The identityof an exceptionally- Wereencountered, with two at GMI, NB with minimum totals of ten in New late empidonaxflycatcher near Wolfville, Sept.21 (AC,ST); oneat BroadCove, NS Brunswick, 16 in Nova Scotia, and ten in NS Nov. 24-Dec. 27 wasdutifully scruti- Sept.28 (SF);one at Chebucto, NS lateSep- Newfoundland.Careful monitoring of 2 nized,with the excitingresult being the tember(fide KNK); one at SealI., NS Sept. feedersin Alma, NB, revealedthat six dif- Region'sfirst DuskyFlycatcher (m.ob.). 30-Oct. 2 (fideBMy); one at HartlenPt., ferentDickcissels visited during the season Early Say'sPhoebes were one at Black- NS Oct. 14-18 (fideBMy); one at Bear (RW). Clay-coloredSparrow totals by head,NF Sept.2 for a 2nd provincial Cove,NF Sept.7 & 14 (KK, CB),and one provincewere one in New Brunswick, record (KK et al.) and one at Schooner at BearCove Pt., NF Sept.21 (TB, BMt). eight in Nova Scotia(including five on Pond,Cape Breton I., NS Sept. 5 (fide The only Golden-wingedWarbler was a SealI., Sept.1), and onein Newfound- BMy). Foursingle W. KingbirdsRegion- femaleat GreenBay, NS Sept. 17 (SC); land. A Field Sparrowwas rare at East wide wasnormal for recentyears: singles however,a very rare 5? "Lawrence's" Warbler Point,PEI Oct. 5 (RC et al.). LarkSpar- at Edmunston,NB Aug. 5 (PD), Maces wasbanded on Seal I., NS Sept.19 0ffdeIJ). rowswere in slightlyabove-average num- Bay,NB Sept.6 (K. Mcintosh),North Three Yellow-throated Warblers were found bers,with ten individualsspread over the Head, GMI, NB Sept. 16 (JWi), and with singlesat Milford,NS Oct. 19 & 20 Region.Much rarer was the Lark Bunting CapeSable I., NS Nov. 10 (fideBMy). A offdeBMy); at CapeSable I., NS Oct. 18 & at SealI., NS Sept.1-5 (BMyet al.).The Scissor-tailedFlycatcher was in n.e. New Nov. 3 (fideBMy), andat St. John's,NF only two GrasshopperSparrows were at Brunswickat LamequeOct. 25 (R-AC). Oct. 13 (TB). PrairieWarblers were especial- SealI., NS Oct. 1-4 (RS et at) andTaylor A lateand rare Rough-winged Swallow ly numerous,with tallies of 18 in NovaSco- Head P.P, NS Oct. 13 (BF). Nova Scotia's wasat CapeSable I., NS Oct.5 offdeBMy). tia, six in New Brunswick,and nine in New- 3rd Le Conte'sSparrow was banded and The annualCliff Swallow drift migration to foundland. An imm. 5? Cerulean Warbler photographedSept. 30 at BonPortage I. Newfoundlandwas reduced to singlesat waswell studied Sept. 15 at WhiteHead I., (fideBMy). There was a goodshowing of CapeSpear Oct. 2 (BMt) andCape Broyle NB (JWi et al.) and a malewas reported Yellow-headedBlackbirds with singlesat Oct. 19 (IJ, Jp). Vagrant House Wrens Aug.12 at HardenPt., NS (fideBMy). A GMI, NB Sept. 13-18 (ST); at St. includedthree at SableI., NS Sept.23 (ZL) Worm-eatingWarbler was banded on Seal L, Anselme, NB Oct. 3 (L. Gionet); at New and one at St. John's,NF Oct. 11 (RF). NS Sept.23 (fideIJ), whileNewfoundland Maryland, NB Nov. 11-13 (PP); at Ft. Migrant SedgeWrens found on island hadsightings at Cappahayden Sept. 22 (IJet Augustus,PEI Nov.8-30+ (A. Mckinnon); vagranttraps in NovaScotia included one at al.) andat CapeSpear Oct. 2 (BMt). A andat St.John's, NF Sept.20-26 (N. Ket- SableI., Sept.23 (ZL),one at SealI., Oct. 1 LouisianaWaterthrush was at CapeSable I., tle). Much rarerwas a Brewer'sBlackbird at offdeBMy), and one at Brier I., Oct. 18offde NS (fideBMy). KentuckyWarblers' fond- SealI., NS Oct. 11 (fideBMy). Three BMy). IncompleteBlue-gray Gnatcatcher nessfor thes.e. Avalon Pen., NF is baffling, Orchard Orioles were found in Nova Sco- totals by province were four in New butthere were three more this fall: Sept. 22 tia: at White'sL. in earlySeptember and Brunswick, four in Nova Scotia, two in at BearCove 0W etal.),Oct. 2 at Blackhead onSeal I., Sept.7 & 23 (fideBMy). Prince Edward I., and one in Newfound- (BMt), anda verylate male Oct. 17 at St. Increasingnumbers of Am. Goldfinch land.Northern Wheatears were present in John's(RF). Newfoundland'sfirst Connecti- in St. Pierreet Miquelon (and e. New- high numberssimilar to the last5 years, cutWarbler performed exceptionally well for foundland)led to thefirst breeding record with oneat Castalia,GMI, NB Sept.18 & 10 birdersin the grassat the CapeRace at St. Pierre,SPM Aug. 11 (RE).The mas- 19 (KE); oneat SummervilleBeach EE, NS lighthouseSept. 28 (CB,JP et al.). Hooded sivenumbers of White-wingedCrossbills Sept.18-20 (fideBMy); one at Wolfville, Warblersfound were: one Sept. 23 at Deep presentin Newfoundlandup to midsum- NS Oct. 21 (JB);one at Capeof Miquelon, Cove,GMI, NB (DC); a maleAug. 8 at merwere completely gone by September. SPM Sept.9 (MD), andsix individuals in CapeSable I., NS offdeBMy); and one Sept. In general,finches were in low numbers Septemberat variouslocations on theAval- 1 onSeal I., NS (fideBMy); a maleat Cap- acrossthe Region. on Pen.,NF (m.ob.).New Brunswick'sfirst pahayden,NF Sept.23 andOct. 2 provided Mountain Bluebird was an imm. male at a 3rdprovincial record (DF, TB, IJ).Yellow- Observers(subregional contributors in CaraquetNov. 15-25 (R&B Langteigneet breastedChats are underreported and under boldface):Sherman Boates, Todd Boland, aL). In contrastto last year, very few observedin the Region,as illustrated by a Micheal Borotra, B. Bowerbank, Chris BohemianWaxwings were reportedin dozenbanded on Seal I., NS in lateSeptem- Brown, Ian Cameron, R-A. Chaisson, Novemberin the Region.Average numbers ber.Total rq3orted by province included nine Dave Christie, Alain Clavette, Shirley of N. Shrikereached the Region. in New Brunswick,>20 in Nova Scotia,and Cohrs, Connie Colpitts, Ray Cooke, six in Newfoundland. Dave Currie, Brian Dalzell, Raymond Vireos to Warblers D'Entrement, Marc Derible, Pierre One of threeWhite-eyed Vireos on SealI., Tanagers to Finches Duguay,Charles Duncan, Jim Edsall,K. NS in earlyOctober was banded (fide IJ). Up to threedifferent Summer Tanagers Edwards,Roger Etcheberry, Dave Fifield, Newfoundland's 3rd Yellow-throated wereon SealI., NS betweenearly Septem- BernardForsythe, Roger Foxall, Sylvia Vireo was a late bird at St. John'sOct. ber andearly October. A ScarletTanager Fullerton, Philippe Hacala, Mike

VOLUME 5I, NUMBER I FIELD NOTES 19 Hawkswood, Laurent Jackman, Cecil Johnston,Keith N. Keddy,Ken Knowles, Abbreviations:C .T. (Cap•urmente, near Paul Linger,Zoe Lucas,Peter MacLeod, QudbecCity); M.B. (MissisquoiBay, Upper BruceMactavish, Scott Makepeace, Rose- Richelieu);R.B. (Res.Beaudet, Victoriaville); Alma Mallet, Blake Maybank, Dan S.L.D.G.(Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Valley- McAsldll, Ian McLaren, Eric Mills, Mur- Region fiela). ray Newell,Sharon Northorp, R. Palmer, Peter Pearce,Monique Plourde, John Grebes to Swans Pratt,Aldei Robichaud,Jytte Selno, Fran- Twogrebes of the genusAechmophorus cis Spalding,Richard Stern, Jim Taylor, werereported. The first,found at Pointe- Stuart Tingley,Judy Tufts, Rob Walker, PIERRE BANNON AND NORMAND DAVID au-P•re,Rimouski, Oct. 22, wasthought to Jim Wilson,John Wells. YvesAubry, co-author of this Regional be a Clark's Grebe on the basisof an area BruceMactavish, 37 Water•rdBridge reportfrom 1983 to 1996, hasdecided to of white feathers that extended above the Rd., St.John}, NE AlE 1C5 takea well-deservedrespite. His constant red eyesand a yellowbill, but the remain- enthusiasmover these thirteen years arous- derof the descriptionwas sketchy at best esadmiration. Fortunately, before leaving, (E Proulx).In the 2nd case,a bird seenon Aubry convincedNormand David, co- Rivi&redes Prairies,n. of Montreal, Nov. authorof the reportfrom 1975 to 1983, 2-3, wasreadily identified as a W. Grebe, to get backin business.Normand's thor- butthe description did not include any ref- oughknowledge of Qu•bec'savifauna will erencesto the colorof the lores(D. Tessier, undoubtedlybe much appreciated. G. Lachaine,E Paill6). As crucial details This fallsweather in southernQuebec arelacking (above all, the exact color of the Involveda warm and sunny August, a pleas- bill andlores), we preferto reportthese ant September,a near normal October, and birdsas Aechmophorus sp.The greatest care a coldand rainy November. At Montreal, mustbe taken in separatingthe 2 speciesof the five inches of rain that fell November thisgenus, especially in fall andwinter. As 8-9 rosethe riversto theirspring levels. yet, there is no substantiatedrecord for Overall,southern Quebec experienced near eitherspecies in theRegion. normaltemperature and precipitation for Wilson'sStorm-Petrels straying W on the thewhole period. In northernQuebec, tem- St. Lawrence R. included two individuals at peratureswere slightly above normal, while Qu6becCity Sept. 14 (AD, LR) andsingles precipitationwas below normal. at Rivi•re-Ouelle,Kamouraska, Sept. 22 Theseason was highlighted by a higher- (LM, AG) and Pointeau Platon,Lotbini?re, than-usualnumber of vagrantsfrom the Oct. 24 (JE B•dard).For the 2nd consecu- west and impressiveconcentrations of tive year,Leach's Storm-Petrel appeared Snow Geese and other waterfowl in south- inlandat R.B.,where singles were detected erncounties of theprovince. On thenega- Aug.14 (• Daigle)and Sept. 20 (MG, CR). tive side,the hawkflight was unremark- A N. Gannet was a rare fall visitor at ableand gull watching rather lackluster. M.B., Nov. 6 (JGP). An ad. Am. White Radisson '• • QUEBEC•., :": .... ""Blanc•Sablon r

ß•m0• • . .• / /'Rimo•ki • • Chi•utimi•' /

Laurier // ß •hie•ille .= Mo•real • •. Hull•. • •'• ' She•rookee•.

FIELDNOTES SPRINGi997