1976 Walter D. Koenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (19 May) Over at the knoll, I discovered a young Blue Oak totally ridden with AW saphules; this is where the birds had been flying to (today and occasionally in the past) and I suspect it may very well have been for the sap. 22 May 1230. Nobody anywhere that I can see. 1240. A series of wakeas are coming from several spots on the knoll area (Far Tortuga). 1300. Nothing in main area yet. Going to check holes and knoll. I wandered way the hell over towards the main road, eventually finding 2 birds well out in the middle of nowhere (see L19 and L20 on xerox sheet). No hint of what's going on, however. My guess is that perhaps they split entirely from the area in the afternoons to go water down at Finch Creek, perhaps by Warners, or at some other distant water source. I wish I knew what their breeding plans are in any case! 24 May 830-930. Watched the area, finding the birds almost entirely over on the knoll, where they were avidly sapsucking. All 5 2nd-year birds plus 8 RRF (all 6 wing-streamered birds) were seen. They began to split up particularly after an adult Cooper Hawk scattered them at 915, making at least 3 unsuccessful passes at the birds. Several gave alarm calls, alerting the entire entourage long before I saw anything. By 930 all the birds were still silent and stationary; at that point I went off to make my usual rounds. Before I left, a 2nd intruder was chased from the 20th tree by the univing 4. Counted stores also: 2075 (all in main tree).