Radwell red rare

Blimey, what a big rare - first for years in the county.  The last time we saw one of these, GW Egret hadn't been recorded in Bedfordshire and now we've had about 15 of the trashy birds.

Anyroad, here is my best obscure shot and a follow up PF Goose which I'm having.  Its not the Harold injured one as I saw that half an hour before.

Pink-footed Goose

(definite article/ indefinite article)

Recently, I was reminded that we are playing by Punkbirder rules.

This morning (18 March) there was a Pink-footed Goose with Greylag and Canada Geese at DWE Pits. According to the Punkbirder website, this would be a valid self-find; satisfying both the time and distance criteria: http://punkbirder.webs.com/selffoundrules.htm

Unless, of course, someone is able to cite an obscure and esoteric self-finding by-law from 1856.

Just to be on the safe side, I thought I would check for recent, local records:

i) 04 February 2014, Henlow Grange, (RH)
ii) 12 January 2014, Southill Park, (BJN)
iii) 19 January 2014, Wardown Park, (AG)
iv) 06 January 2013, Warren Villas NR (DOM)
v) 02 November 2012, Broom GP's (RIB)

(NB - I cannot find the 2013 SFYL spreadsheet and the only records on the Bird Club BirdTrack account are from Cainhoe and the presumed injured Harrold bird.)

Barry doesn't self-list (ii) and I did not count iv, but why have records i, iii and v been counted as self-finds? The particularly galling point about record v is that I was with Richard at the time but refused to tick it. As I said to him ''I'm not claiming that because there is no way I'd have picked it out, at that distance, and with bins only!''

So, I think that everyone should be able to tick PG's or no-one should, in the same way that we deal with Barnacle Geese.

Also, I am sure I am not the only one to question some claims (I question my own!), so perhaps we should hold votes on the veracity of certain disputed claims as they arise?

Thoughts please gentlemen?

D

Luton Pinkie

Not found anything to shout about so far this year so was most surprised to kick off with this in Luton's Wardown Park. Fully winged in flight and no rings, this bird was associating with Canadas and a few Greylag in the largest count I have made of geese at this site since I started WEBSing it in 2008. It's on my list.

 Pinkie with no jewellery

 Pinkie with Greylag and lots of wing feathers

Something plastic

Pink

A Great Black back last weekend and a Pink-footed Goose at Radwell today adds a couple more.  Not sure if I can make it to 150 for the year but reckon that's a suitable target now.

Nothing to tick here...

WeBS at Cuckoo Bridge tonight and no new selfers except Swallow but one of the pinkies is on show again.

Pinkie

About the right time for some proper geese and reckon this will do for the SFYL.  Sure there will be more with several records from Cambs this week.  Oh and a nice Hawfinch from the Pinnacle yesterday adds another...

Harrold early doors

Dawn at Harrold gave me one more SFYT with a singing Cetti's Warbler. Less exciting were the wildfowl.

A fine shot of two female Red-crested Pochards at Harrold. The second female being a SFYT for anyone other than me having found the other two. But it was me so counts for nothing.
Another quality shot of the Harrold Pink-foot with a dodgy wing. A bird from 2011 so not countable.