Hi Tweeters,

OK, before you read this post, I just want to warn the more excitable Tweeters subscribers that I will be the first to admit that this is a very questionable ID. While at Nisqually today, unsuccessfully trying to locate the Barn Owl mentioned by Dave in his post yesterday, I heard a bird just before the primitive trail as one is walking from the river look-out, on the inner dike side (around 12:45). The best that I can describe it is that it sounded to me like a burry "right here!", with the initial sound drawn out a little and trilled. It definitely was not a 'fitz bew' Willow Flycatcher call, which could be heard all around the refuge today. It took about 5 minutes before I could locate it visually, first by eye, then by binoculars, and finally with my scope. It was perhaps 40' away and maybe 25' off of the ground, perched on a branch. Visually, it looked just like a Willow Flycatcher to me, including the light lower mandible contrasting with the darker upper mandibl!
e, ligh
t colored throat, slightly darker neck region, and light breast, with weakly off-white wing bars, and no discernable eye ring, but it called several more times while I had it in the scope, each time with the "right here" call. I have only heard Alder Flycatchers on tape and from the Cornell Lab web site, and I know how subjective sound interpretation can be. Has this species ever been recorded in this part of Washington before? While I wouldn't make a special trip to Nisqually just for this bird, if any of you happen to be out there over the next few days, keep your ears open for this call.

Lonnie Somer
Olympia, WA
wheelermombi at comcast.net