Five Snow Geese Chen caerulescens (four adults and one juvenile) on Sable Island, January 1. During the last ten years 16 have been recorded – one in each of April, September and October, and 13 during December-January. Most of the winter birds lingered at the freshwater ponds for a month or so. Some occurrences may have been overlooked. These birds seem difficult to spot when they are amongst the large numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls sometimes roosting at the inland ponds in winter and spring.