1981 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Gate display, + the ♂ made motions to mount her. However, the other ♂ immediately flew down, and nothing happened 6 May Start 0700. ♀ and ♂627 in nest as I arrive. ♂♂ Following, of course, but now it looks like ♂626 is the "less devoted" consort to ♀519, whilst it was ♂627 well before egg-laying. End 0920. No dominance, copulations, etc. Watching again in the evening. Lots of following. Birds moving around a lot on the side of Haystack, but flycatching from the rocks & chamise. No mountings seen, no copulations, etc. Again, the ♀519 seemed to roost early, but I don't believe it was in the nest hole. When do these guys copulate, anyway? 7 May ♀587 BPink-B1K/Metal, erstwhile of Low Hay, sitting in the little Valley Oak 30 meters S of the gate, at 1420, as she was a couple of weeks ago. Nest check at 1430: 3 eggs, so I laid both today & yesterday. I did not pull the eggs out of the nest, considering the difficulty I had with that 2 days ago. Thus, they were not marked or numbered. 9 May Nest check 1100: 4 eggs This may well be the complete clutch, ♀519 failed to lay either yesterday or (more probably) today, 13 May 1800 Nest check: 4 eggs it is. I also introduce a ♂ die to the nest, to see if it gets chucked. 15 May Nest check 1800. Die still in the hole, not thrown