Gib Point recently

Edmund Mackrill · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:30 pm

It's been a good last 3 days at Gib.

Firstly a 1st Year Common Rosefinch was present in the East dunes for most of Friday. Uncharacteristically it showed very well keeping company with Goldfinches and feeding on Elderberries and Ragwort and Thistle seeds. No photographers around to scare it off which they surely would have done!! 2 Balearic Shearwaters were offshore and a Juv Long-tailed Skua.
Yesterday, Saturday, 2 Yellow- browed Warblers were found and at least 6 Pied Flys were present - 3 being ringed.
Today, Sunday, I checked in with Mick Briggs when I arrived to see what he'd ringed and he thought that he had just heard a Greenish Warbler calling. As it was raining he went off to check the nets whilst I went to where he had heard the Greenish. Sure enough it was still calling and I managed brief but definitive views before it crossed the road not to be relocated.
Whilst trying to relocate the Greenish along the cycle track an obliging Red - breasted Flycatcher showed well feeding low down in a relatively leafless sorbus tree.
Interestingly Mick Briggs told me that Chiffchaff numbers ringed this week have been almost at record levels.

Graham Catley · **Joined:** Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:20 pm **Posts:** 1667

something of a slate on all photographers that is rather too generalized; at least when a rare bird is photographed there is hard evidence for consideration and had any of these been captured on film I have no doubt the Gib Report authors would have been requesting copies as would the usual committees that generally lack supporting evidence of so many rare bird claims in recent times.
Typically is seems the rosefinch was reported just once on the day in question with no actual directions so there is little surprise that it did not attract anyone from outside the Gib scene; not a criticism just an obvious point.

Dean Eades · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:23 pm

No photographers around to scare it off which they surely would have done, harsh works Ed

Kev Wilson · **Posted:** Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:38 pm

Tim Bagworth founfd the rosefinch and I put the news out based on the info at the time - ie it was mobile on the East Dunes - although fortunately there were a few people around to pin it down during the morning after which there did not seem to be any coninuity of observation. There was a later report on birdguides that it was seen at 1700 which was interesting as I had just been able to go looking for it (unsuccessfully) by then. Also met John Harry, Derek Pell and Graham Gardy who had not been able to find it.

Failed to see the greensih and RBF today too - no further sign of either after early morning. There was a report of RBF near the yacht club this evening and the yellow-browed warbler was reported at the south end of the west dunes with a tit flock.

Cheers

Kev

John Hague · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:49 am

Go steady Ed. Plenty of birders scare/flush birds as well.

David Morison · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:59 am

Edmund,
Why would a telescope with a camera attached to it scare a bird when a telescope with a birder attached doesn't? I'm interested in the science behind this theory, please.
Regards David

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:24 am

Edmund would be well placed to answer such a question as he was a photographer of some distinction but having laid his camera aside will be able to see this issue from both sides to produce a balanced view.

John

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Gib Point recently

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