To All:

I believe it's Willow.

I personally interpret Fitz-Bew on Willow and Fee-Be-O on Alder, at least in
the Mid-Alantic region.

These are long term RTP mnemonics, so maybe growing up on them when these
was really only one field guide, I am biased/used to them, BUT . . .

The main key for me is that the *Willow is two syllables and the Alder three
*, though I am sure there are variations.

I am right over the MD line near Emmittsburg, and here, Willows are a dime a
dozen and Alders are almost non-existent, so it is almost always Fitz-Bew.

 A recent post on the PABIRDS list.serv reported 11 Willows at PA State Game
Lands #249 which is about 20 miles North of the MD line at Emmittsburg. This
post was billed as a great flycatcher day and also reported were many
Kingbirds, a number of Cresteds,  Pewees and Phoebes. Other Empids included
several Least and Acadian flycatchers. The birders were crack local people.

The notable point - not one Alder!!!

This was a great flycatcher fall out day here. A week after this, I had most
of these at this location and in the Empid department a number of WIllow and
Acadian but not the Least. And, I have never had Alder here. Willows are
common breeders here.

Mike O'Brien
Fairfield, Adams County

On Sun, Jun 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM, Tony Futcher <>wrote:

> Ryan,
>
> my first thought was that it did not sound quite right as compared to the
> Willows that I hear on our BBS routes in the area. However it is much more
> like the Willow than the Alder when I compare the two calls on the Cornell
> site.
>
> In fact as I played the Cornell Willow and your bird together, your bird
> clearly, in my opinion, is a Willow.
>
> Check this URL if you haven't already done so -
>
> http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse_tax.aspx?family=65
>
> Do you know if one can park at the golf complex off ov University Blvd?
> That site is just up the road a little from my house in West Hyattsville. I
> have often wondered if the trail was open to the public in the4 area of the
> golf course, but have never investigated.
>
> The map is a really helpful guide. I hadn't realized how they could be
> annotated.
>
> I'll have to try the area this week.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Tony Futcher
> West Hyattsville, MD
>
> Ryan Farrell wrote:
>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> I was able to go back early in the afternoon and refind this empid
>> (~1:15pm, initially observed around 9:45am).  I got clean looks for a minute
>> (but didn't know which subtle cues I should've been looking for), but was
>> fortunate that it was singing still.  It only sang for about 2 of the 10 or
>> so minutes I was there.  Here's a recording (that's a plane overhead for the
>> first half of the recording, the last 15 seconds or so are very clear of the
>> bird's song/call).
>>
>> ftp://ftp.cs.umd.edu/pub/farrell/birds/Empid_13Jun09.mp3
>>
>> I'm eager to hear what you all think it is... :)
>>
>> Good birding,
>> Ryan Farrell
>> College Park
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>>
>>
>