The Lincolnshire Bird Club

11:47 17/10/07 Desert Wheatear Lincs Howden's Pullover 11:40

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

It's been re-id'd as a Northern Wheatear (predictably?).

Will

Thanks for the update, Will!

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

Steve Lorand sends his apologies.
A great disappointment for those of us that undertook the long walk to
'quad 3' to see this bird, but it is the right time of year for one.
I 'phoned RBA as soon as the identity of the bird had been confirmed, also contacted a few others to save them from making the trip - including a very grateful Ed. Mackrill who was peddling hard in that direction !

Roy.

Yes - thanks for that Roy. Today was one of those days anyway. It started with a major back tyre blowout whilst on my way to Gib Pt which then needed a 4 1/2 mile walk pushing bike and trailer to Derrick's Cycles in Skegness. Was then halfway back to Gib again when call from John C re the Desert Wheatear turned me around into the teeth of the 25 mph wind and I'd made it as far as Sutton on Sea at not much more than 9 mph when Roy so kindly thought of me and phoned - I'd still done 40 miles. What do I think now about green, low carbon birding?? Well if you haven't got a car it's the only way but it would have been bliss to take the easy option and just drive home!!!!
And I do have a spare Collins guide if you need it Steve.

Hi Roy

Any footage of this bird ? Presume it looked slightly odd?

Kev

Yes, I do have a bit of footage, but, being honest, there really is nothing very unusual about the bird.
We all have moments like this!

Graham took a few pictures.

Roy

Ah, the annual Wheatear cock-up.... and there's me thinking the recent Isabelline claims from Norfolk and Scilly would be the only ones this year

It is not a good idea cto castigate people to much for making an innocent mistake. With the vageries of plumage conditions in moult, juv birds, leg length not always apparent in vegetation, colour vision difficulties of the male of our species etc. The next time a rarity is seen by the observer his reluctance to make another genuine call might mean everyone misses a rarity. So be gentle, a lesson learned makes a better birder. A good look at the wheatears tail pattern is required and because they tend to be busy and active feeders flushing is not required just patience.

Terry Whalin

Terry - my comment was a little tongue in cheek (hence the ) - can't speak for any other comments though.

I think people have to remember that the common alternative is always going to be alot more likely than the rare one when arriving at conclusions...

A good look at the wheatears tail pattern is required and because they tend to be busy and active feeders flushing is not required just patience.

Not really wing patterns are much easier to see and usually diagnostic; head and bill size, shape etc are also good pointers--wheatear's tail patterns are seldom the best way to ID any of the species unless of course you find a Red-tailed

well, i think i have been taken to literally. I was not trying to give chapter and verse about i d features just a gentle nudge in a direction.
I agree with what Graham has said but i did state previously the vageries of moult and the colour vision difficiencies of the male of our species etc.
I would certainly check tail patterns for desert / northern confusion especially if the bird was in moult etc. We have i understand a mutual friend ( glyn sellers ) who i have, home and abroad birded with many times. Glyn cannot understand when he says can you see the obvious this or that and i reply no i cannot, and i cannot understand because i have excellent distance vision that glyn could not see what i can. Everyone see's things differently and looks for different things, if i had to rely on the pink rump of a twite to i d it, i would fail every time. anyway because certain features are not always apparent to all people the same all i was trying to say no big sticks required just tolerance and better luck next time for which we all might be grateful instead of disappointed. I am not looking for a fight or a falling out but am disappointed to be so chastised on well meaning comments, so smile, life is a bitch and then you die.

Terry Whalin