Subject: Alder Flycatcher still at Crab Creek, Lincoln Co., WA
Date: Jun 9 23:36:21 2002
From: Scott G. Downes - Downess at cwu.EDU


Tweets,
While the bird was giving the two noted call note, similar to hammonds, but sharper, it was also giving the classic song. I guess everyone hears songs differently. I hear Alders as a two noted fee-brr, although some people call it free-beer. All of the alders that I encountered around fairbanks,AK while working there demonstrated this song.
I'm not familiar with other areas of alders range and there could well be differences in songs. However, the bird we had this morning demonstrated both call note and song that I'm familar with in association to alder. As the arrival date in central Alaska is first week of June, rather late for a songbird, in fact one of the latest arrivals up there. The timing of this bird also seems to fit close to that time period.
I think caution is good, all I'm expressing is that to me it demonstrated the characteristics in song that I'm familar with in alder. Hopefully the recording turned out ok, the bird was quite soft in its calls. Hopefully others can see the bird and we can let the committee decide on its acceptance.

Good Birding.

Scott Downes
downess at cwu.edu
Ellensburg WA


>>> Eugene Hunn <enhunn at attbi.com> 06/09/02 22:41 PM >>>
It is my understanding that Alder's most distinctive vocalization is distinctly three parted, fee-bay-o, accented on the second. It's been a while since I've heard one, but I've heard some quite atypical Willows locally.

Gene Hunn.