Subject: [Tweeters] Fall at Malheur-- Lake of food
Date: Sep 28 18:59:57 2011
From: Jerry Broadus - jbroadus at seanet.com


Tweets: Today is last bird count day for me at Malheur, returning home to
Puyallup tomorrow. Good ending. Counted south shore of Harney Lake this
morning. First, saw from the truck what looked like a rocky shoal far
offshore. Decided I would have to shoulder the scope and walk across the
alkaline flats to the lake edge, a pretty good trek. The shoal consisted of
2300 American Avocets. Another of many surprises this place has in store.
All month long, including at Stinking Lake, avocets have been few and far
between. I thought they had all left for margaritas on the beach. But here
they are. Also 4000 shovelers, most all kicking along with their scoops
under the surface. Shovelers are another species that has been curiously
uncommon over most of the refuge. They are all here, I guess. I don't think
I would want to stick my toe in the water of this lake right now. Probably
would be eaten off by the protein sources right below the surface. Weather,
bird numbers, and lack of biting bugs all very nice right now, will be a bit
sad to leave, but Clarice waits on the wet side of the mountains. See you
all whenever.

Jerry Broadus