Can someone confirm that this is Red Alder? The growth habit doesn't seem quite right... found them growing in profusion, almost right out of the water in a sedge-dominated wetland. Could not find any alder leaves on the ground. Overstory is mostly maple with some hemlock and cedar around the margins. Location is Cascade foothills of Western WA (elev ~ 800 ft.).
Looks like Hazel to me. Corylus avellana... but as you are in USA maybe it is Corylus americana..or Corylus cornuta. These are the male flowers. I would suggest that you go back to look for tiny red bits...see link.....these are the female flowers and will confirm Hazel sp. corylus avellana female flowers - Google Search corylus americana female flowers - Google Search Corylus cornuta.female flowers - Google Search More here.... Article - Hazels and Filberts in Seattle by Arthur Lee Jacobson Quote above.... "Our Native Hazel The hazel native to the Seattle area, called in books the California or Western beaked hazel, is Corylus cornuta var. californica. It is one of the most common understory elements in the woods of the Seattle area. "
You may be right! You can see what I guess are leaf buds (?) in the 2nd photo. They don't really look like the buds on an alder. This definitely looked more like a shrub than a tree. I thought they were willows at first until I saw the catkins.
Worth adding that most hazels pollinate a month or two earlier than most alders - here, Common Hazel has nearly finished, European Alder yet to start.
