First Congrats to Bob Flores for this find.
For what its worth, I thought I saw an Alder Flycatcher June 16, 1995 near
LaGrande in NE Oregon (Bird Track Springs). The 2 note "fee brr" sounds
like what it was doing. What really got my attention was that the Willow
Flycatchers were attaching this poor bird. It was sitting less than 2 feet
off the ground (almost hiding). Once in a while a "fee brr" would slip out
& one of at least 2 Willow's would fly in & peck it. I was less than 15
feet away for 30 minutes. My darn tape recorder wouldn't work. It was gone
when I returned.
Has anyone else (Jack?) noted such conflicts in areas where both species
exist? (central BC).

Good discussion.
Craig Corder
Hermiston, OR & Cheney, WA
ccorder at eoni.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott G. Downes" <Downess at cwu.EDU>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 11:36 PM
Subject: Re: Alder Flycatcher still at Crab Creek, Lincoln Co., WA


> 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.
>