Hello Steve,Gene,Mike and others,

In response to the Cordilleran Flycatcher discussion. We recorded and photographed what we presumed were Cordilleran-type Flycatchers on the 27th of June,2002 along the south fork of Dry Creek,which lies below Bisquit Ridge. We observed 4 birds along the creek at close range and as we recorded their songs at no time did the birds respond to Pacific-slope Flycatcher recordings,which we played and only responded to tape recordings we had of Cordilleran Flycatcher and sounded exactly like those pre-recordings. We obtained our own personal recordings and still have them to this date and strongly felt that the birds were Cordilleran Flycatchers,but since there was no proof at the time as to the true confirmation of this species in WA we listed them as Cordilleran-type Flycatcher,which we posted onto Tweeters/Inland NW Birders. On the 27th of June,2002 we also visited another location along Coppei Creek,where we encountered Cordilleran-type Flycatchers during the 1993 WOS Convention hosted in Walla Walla. During our latest visit to this location we did not encounter any Cordilleran-type Flycatchers,despite extensive searching so we presumed they had moved to another location further up or down the creek. We feel that there is much more discussion to be made on whether there are actually Cordilleran Flycatchers in WA and more evidence may be needed beyond actual tape recordings,DNA studies,etc since there may be much variation between Cordilleran and Pacific-slope Flycatchers. We don't have anything to add more than what we have mentioned on this matter and topic,but felt compelled to add our comments.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Fircrest,WA

----- Original Message -----
From: SGMlod at aol.com
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2004 1:04 PM
Subject: Cordilleran Fly


Greetings All

I very much concur with much of Gene's post. Kevin Aanerud and I traveled up Coppei Creek in Walla Walla Co. a couple June's ago. We stopped every half mile or so and listened and played tapes. We found both Cordilleran and Pacific Slope Flys; since the Cordillerans gave songs/calls typical of that taxon, there is no reason to doubt they were anything but. Responses to tapes tended to be matched to taxon. That is, Cords responded to Cord songs, PSFL to PSFL songs. I can't remember the details at the moment, but we found more Cordilleran than PS.

Whether they're species or subspecies is another matter, but it seems clear that Cordilleran Flycatchers (whatever they are) do occur in se. WA.

Cheers
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA
SGMlod at aol.com
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