Subject: [Tweeters] Fall at Malheur
Date: Sep 7 20:19:41 2011
From: Jerry Broadus - jbroadus at seanet.com


Tweets: Am spending another month at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge doing
bird surveys. Clarice is with me for 2 weeks, Shep Thorp for one. We have
hit it hard already, and there are lots of birds here now. Unusually wet
Summer led to record high lake level. Malheur Lake at the Narrows runs along
the highway for about 2 miles. Harney and Mud Lakes are joined as one.

First survey at Malheur Lake, just from the highway at the Narrows, netted
5,852 birds, many were Clark's grebes with young on their backs. Mud Lake at
same spot had 1,704 birds. Lots of juvenile birds, because nesting was late
due to the wet weather. Malheur Lake is at least 5 feet deep at the refuge
boundary.

Finally made it to Stinking Lake. This has been a goal for a while. Is the
most western lake in the refuge, west of OO. I cannot recommend going
without the aid of local knowledge. This is an intense trip, requiring high
clearance 4 wheel drive. The road in from the refuge is under water. Had to
cross OO flats, then use the BLM road, which is not one to try in a Subaru
Outback. Worth it when we made it there. Count was 10,495 birds, including
4,712 Wilson's phalarope.

Sun is hot, with lots of wildfires here in Oregon. Birding only in morning
and evening. Hardly any place without lots of birds. Nice blackpoll at
headquarters. Place often amazes.

Jerry Broadus