Hi all,
Apologies if this subject has arisen previously.
I was going through my life list yesterday evening, (it took all of a couple of minutes) as I am concerned about the integrity of a couple of ticks. I know I am the keeper of my own list and police it myself, but I'd appreciate the views of others on a couple of 'for instances.'
1) I was with a local birder some years ago twitching a Red-footed Falcon, (I don't twitch as a rule but it was only 10 miles away)! After a couple of hours, my friend announced 'There it is!' Oh great, thinks I, and I see what could have been a Hobby in appalling light and driving rain. Now, my friend has forgotten as much as I know about the species and he was convinced of it's identity.
Somehow, I feel cheated. Would you tick it?
2) A Yellow-browed Warbler happened to be at Paxton Pits whilst I was there. I located it on call and from the same bush, saw half the bird- the wrong half! Another birder present called it as YBW. Again, I feel somewhat cheated. Would you tick it?
I've already made a decision about whether they stay on my list or are purged, but I'm interested in the views of others on the subject.
Many thanks,
Hi Darren
As far as I am concerned it is pointless counting anything on a list unless you have been able to identify it yourself. Ticking on someone else's say-so is a waste of time, even if you are sure they were right.
The American Birding Association have a set of rules for listing that includes something along the same lines.
Steve
[QUOTE=Darrenom]
1) I was with a local birder some years ago twitching a Red-footed Falcon, (I don't twitch as a rule but it was only 10 miles away)! After a couple of hours, my friend announced 'There it is!' Oh great, thinks I, and I see what could have been a Hobby in appalling light and driving rain. Now, my friend has forgotten as much as I know about the species and he was convinced of it's identity.
Somehow, I feel cheated. Would you tick it?[/quote]
No chance...
[QUOTE=Darrenom] 2) A Yellow-browed Warbler happened to be at Paxton Pits whilst I was there. I located it on call and from the same bush, saw half the bird- the wrong half! Another birder present called it as YBW. Again, I feel somewhat cheated. Would you tick it?
[/QUOTE]
Yes... you saw enough to know it wasn't a Coal Tit and heard enough to know it wasn't a Hume's Warbler