On the Grey Cheeked Thrush thread (a bird that damn well better hang around until Saturday I might add)
Streatham posted " Interesting to note that a few birders who have seen it didn't actually see any of the identification points."
to which Mr Allwood, very surprisingly I thought, added......
"now there's a turn up...
i'm sure they're all there in the notes though
used to be if you couldn't id it in the field it wasn't tickable
dumbing down n all that...?"
Now this poses a question if you saw a bird that "experts" tell you is x but frankly as far as you're concerned could be x y or z would you count it?
For instance for me it would be Caspian Gull. I'm told I've seen one (the head warden at Welney carefully pointed it out) but it was a juve and frankly you could tell me it was any Gull and I'd have been none the wiser so if Caspian is ever or maybe has been split it would have to be off of my list.
Personally I wouldn't tick a bird if I couldn't ID it for myself. In my younger days I used to be happy to tick on what others told me, but as I took it a bit more seriously I altered my standards (and a few birds came off the list).
That said I don't think there is anything wrong with getting help with an ID - over the years I have on many occassion relied on someone more experienced to point out the key features of a bird and explain the ID to me. But I do think it's important to see the features for yourself and not blindly accept the opinions of others.
well as far as the GCThrush was concerned I ticked it without ruling out it being a Bicknell's for 2 reasons ... 1. I didn't have the time to stand around and get point blank views. 2.Bicknell's had already been ruled out ... so I have no problem with that ...
I agree, it's always best to ID your own stuff ... remember the Pagham LS Plover, wonder how many ID'd that correctly on the spot and how many ticked it retrospectively when it was then called a Lesser .. I saw it in appaling heat haze and could just about make it out as a sand plover and consequently had to walk away from it not having personally ID'd it ... and it remains unticked.