Yesterday I reported hearing a singing Pine Warbler on the Dartmouth campus. After I returned to the spot this morning and found no Pine Warbler, and then heard several juncos in various places sounding more like Pine Warblers than I expected them to, I can no longer be confident that what I heard yesterday was a Pine Warbler. I'm good at identifying these trilling songs, and ordinarily I have little difficulty distinguishing among the songs of Pine Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, and juncos. But in this case, I guess I didn't give this identification problem enough respect, and I made the call too quickly. This is frustrating. I thought I was done with silly mistakes like this! (Maybe that was my greatest mistake of all.) Anyway, apologies to everyone for the dubious report.



On a happier note, Merlins are back in Hanover. While I was listening for the Pine Warbler, I heard a Merlin calling overhead. I think this must be one of the pair that nests on the golf course just north of campus. Next I covered my usual Mink Brook walk route, and while I did not hear or see much of note, I heard another Merlin, this one calling from pines along the River Trail by Mink Brook. Once again I failed to see the bird—but this is a heard-only identification in which I am much more confident!



Adam Burnett

Dartmouth College





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