I'm sure this is the SSNR bird but it obviously roams about a bit and I last saw it on the 22nd of March on a private site close to SSNR. In this instance I'd been told earlier in the day that the bird was still about and, although I wasn't actually looking for it, the fact that I knew it was about discounted it as a SFYL "tick".
I was on a different part of this site today doing a bit of dog training after a few hours at Broom (3 LRP, 9 Swallows through and PFG showing well) when the cheeky bugger briefly landed on a bush fairly close by. Having learnt my lesson after missing pics of decent birds before I now always try to have the camera to hand and managed a couple of shots before it flew off in the general direction of SSNR (so maybe still worth a look there also?). In this instance I was not looking for it and having been raking around this area during the past few weeks thought it had gone.
Either way, I never tire of seeing these birds and it must be on its way soon.
Jim
Hello Jim,
ReplyDeleteWell...others visit sites where birds are known or thought to be present and claim them as self-found, so why shouldn't you?
However, ethically speaking - as in life, so with self-finding - you shouldn't do something just because:
i) everybody else does it
ii) you can get away with it
There are rules laid out on the punkbirder website (hyperlink also on the blog home page): http://punkbirder.webs.com/selffoundrules.htm
The quote ''we think these are as good as anything'' has often and historically carried the caveat ''if it suits me.''
I would propose 0.5 points for (oxymoronic or pseudo) 'finds' at known sites, but I don't make the rules.
Happy soul searching!
DOM
Personally, I'd not count it. Seems harsh but, at best, it is a great bird to see. At worst, it is simply the wintering bird.
ReplyDeleteI've never found a GGS in the UK. Would love to!
Thank you for the replies and info gents and as I'm mainly a rugby follower, not a toerag of a footy fan, I'm more than happy to follow the guidance of the referees. I'm obviously new to this caper and didn't went to get a red card in my first season. I'll just have to find it again in October, or even better get a picture of the 2 of them together if that ever happens again (I'm still smarting over that one) :-)
ReplyDelete..........A brand new site, far enough away from traditional locations is the clincher. I was lucky enough 'for one to find me' in Lincolnshire earlier this year. It was found in a very ordinary location along a country lane just outside a village. If it can be done there, I'm sure it could be the same case in Beds, got to be a bit jammy though!
ReplyDelete