1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate (3 December) 1230. By the Gate: ⚫♂(a-Da(n)/M) apparently(!)#395. 1235. Back in Sycamore along Robertson Creek (right at confluence) ⚫♂ M/R-DB#396. 1310. There's a hole in a willow up about 50m in from the Gate that several birds are interested in. One is apparently ♂ Red-Da/Red "" - #238, except that I have excellent light and the Reds look Red - not Orange in the least. [illegible] 1312. This must be a water hole - a flock of bushtits are now going inside it! 1315 ⚫♂4e/DB-4e(n)#394 now near this hole. 1330. Everybody seems to be elsewhere now. In any case, this is now the 2nd time I've seen essentially everybody except j398, who I presume is gone. Fortunately ⚫58 is clearly alive and well. Just as I said that a bird came by who seemed to be a ♀ and have a M band on her lower left foot! Maybe I better not be quite so hasty. 1337. Now 5+ birds atop Gate Sycamore, viz. ⚫♂ub, ⚫394, ⚫258, ♀397. 1400. Leaving. One more watch to be sure, but j398 is most probably gone, I should think. 14 December An ambush set up at the '77 willow nest hole failed. At least 6 birds had been roosting there. 15 December Counted stores: Gate tree: 596 Wgate tree: 757 19 December On our way out to town Pam and I came across a dead, unbanded ⚫ AW hung up on the fence just up along the road from the Gate sycamore Inquiries failed to come up with who found it there, but apparently some road crews had been working up along the road and