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Subject:

possible Alder Flycatcher 5/27

From:

"Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)"

Reply-To:

Lovelace Glen (DelDOT)

Date:

Fri, 2 Jun 2006 15:22:07 -0400

Hello,
	Sorry for the late post, but I forgot to post this after alluding to it in my previous post.  Anyway, while hiking the Chesapeake Forest trail off of Puckum Rd, north of Eldorado, Dorchester Co. on 5/27, I heard a flycatcher song that I was unfamiliar with.  My best description is a two syllable song.  The first was a 'phwew' note, part whistle, but slightly burry.  (by 'burry', think Yellow-throated Vireo or Scarlet Tanager chip-burr).  The second phrase was a heavily burred hiccup sound (by hiccup sound, think Acadian Fly).  
	I saw the bird, but mainly I was chasing it from perch to perch.  When I did see it decently, I was out of position and looking up into treetops against the sun.  What I got was that it was definitely an empid flycatcher, dull brownish-green above, pale belly with a hint of a yellowish wash on the flank, lower mandible was entirely yellow.  Never got a good look at its head and never saw anything about eyerings or wingbars.
	My problem with the bird was that it did not sound like the textbook 'free-bee-o' or 'free beer' Alder Flycatcher heard in most recordings.  But by process of elimination, it was not the 'che-bek' of a Least or Yellow-bellied; not a 'pizza' Acadian (one in the background from comparison); and not as husky as a Willow.  That leaves Alder, but I hate a process of elimination identification.  Anybody have experience with an Alder that sounded a little bit different?

Thanks,
Good Birding,
Glen Lovelace III
Seaford, DE