[obol] Malheur NWR (Semi-p. Sandpipers) and no RH Woodpecker

[Jeff Gilligan]

Owen Schmidt and I looked for the Red-headed Woodpecker on July 9 and 10.
We didn't locate it.

The woman at the headquarters shop said that a woman and her mother had
found the woodpecker independently of Luke Redmond.  (A Great find all - and
congratulations to all.)  I was told that the woman who also found it
obtained photos.  We have requested copies of the photos.

On July 9 we saw three Semipalmated Sandpipers together with about 100
Western Sandpipers and a few Least Sandpipers at The Narrows.  (All were
gone on July 10.)  Two of the Semi-Ps. Were juvs.  None of the Leasts or
Westerns were juvs. - which is consistent from my past experience on and
about this date.

DELETE NOW for non-bird-related comments about Malheur in mid-July.

What a miserable place.   HOT.  Zillions of mosquitoes.  A horde of horse
flies tried to enter our vehicle on the CPR near where sheep are being
grazed to remove "noxious weeds".  Other horse flies made attempts at my
flesh - but I won.  The heat (and humidity near the marshes) was relieved
only by severe cold at night at Page Springs.  Dust of various hues was
raised by the unpredictable winds. Can one combine the experiences of
Devil's Island, the Batan Death March and the Shackleton Expedition in two
days without air travel? - Yes. No wonder that county (about the size of
Europe or something) has 400 people. Residents: leave while you can still
afford the gas!  Having said that, Semi-P. Sandpiper was new to my county
list, and I'll be back soon.

Jeff Gilligan  (from civilized Portland where I am sending this from an
air-conditioned latte spot)