I got to the Alder Flycatcher spot on Ballenger Creek Pk. about 6:40 a.m. 
The bird was singing fee-bee-o on the, I think, north side.  In any case,
the well-vegetated side.  In fairly short order the male Dickcissel popped
up and began singing in the large dead tree on the opposite side.

I then headed to Lily Pons, where I met a friend, and we trooped around for
an hour and a half in a fruitless rail search.  Likewise, no bitterns.  The
most interesting thing was an Osprey carrying nesting material headed down
stream.

So we decided to head back for another crack at the Alder and Dickcissel. 
We arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. to a signing Eastern Meadowlark.  We
never saw it, but, so what!  And the Dickcissel dutifully resumed his
singing perch in the dead tree.  We also observed Eastern Kingbirds, Orchard
Orioles (3), and a few Cedar Waxwings.  The Dickcissel had disappeared, when
another birder arrived.  The bird again most cooperatively popped up to
sing.  We subsequently found a female in the weedy field.  And then, we
observed the Dickcissels mating!  Too bad we're no longer atlasing.  And
finally, just as we were about to call it a day, a Northern Bobwhite began
calling.  We never saw it, but the call was loud, and repeated, not a mocker
or other mimid.  The Alder made no appearance during our second visit,
though a Mockingbird did do a very convincing Willow Flycatcher at one point.  

Kurt Schwarz
HowCo
goawaybird at comcast dot net