The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Two independent reports of a possible collared pratincole from visitors at Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve today sparked interest from those present, and closer inspection of this bird revealed it had all the features of an Oriental Pratincole - reddish-chestnut underwing coverts; plain, dark brown upperwing; no sign of a white trailing edge to the secondaries; very short, stubby tail. On the ground it didn't appear to have much red on the lower mandible, but its not shown too well on the ground so far, largely in flight.

It favours the scrapes in front of the East Hide (the longest walk) and was present today until 3.30pm at least, lots of visitors arriving....although we don't know who the original reports were from.
Steve Keighley and others have some reasonable photos.

Phil Hyde, Paul Sullivan, John Badley et al

Hi Phil,

Original reports came from a Mr Wayne Lawerance of Grimsby. Wayne reported a possible collared pratincole to Tony in the visitor centre, who then called me.

Best wishes,

Simon.

Have put a ropy digiscope in the album, much better to come from others
Paul

Message from Wayne Lawrance:

I made the initial report today, having not seen one before. After looking at my BWPi at home, I agree that the bird that I saw did not appear to have white trailing edges to its wings, but I am sure that I observed the red underwings for all of the wing, and not just upto the elbow. As such it looked like the red underwing had a defined black border for all of its length. I also thought the tail was longer than the image for the Oriental Pratincole....but I am no expert.

wayne.lawrance@btinternet.com

Do these things tend to hang around, and if my Dad can't get me there, can I please have a lift there from someone if the bird is present tomorrow? I am heartbroken and furious that I missed it, as Dad wasn't available this afternoon.

To miss a 'mega' like this on my local patch is galling enough, but to miss two 'megas' in a week (the Yellowlegs) really is too much. When I saw the pic was taken by Neil Smith my heart sank into my shoes as I knew it would more likely than not be a local mega and my fears were realised when I clicked on the Reports link.

Many people know of my frustration at not getting out birdwatching as much as I would like, yet no alternative method of extra-paternal transport is feasible to get me to Frampton and Freiston. Taxis are too expensive (I am on disability benefits) and there are no bus services to either reserve. Dial-A-Ride etc would not work as you have to pre-book so it is useless for twitches, especially if it's already in use by another patron at a time when you want to go.

Therefore, the only other method is to turn to the kindness and generosity of other people for these twitches. When the next 'mega' for Frampton or Freiston comes along, would someone PLEASE let me know as soon as word gets out via PM / E-mail / text, and if Dad can't get me there, offer me a lift to these things with workable pickup point and time arranged? Given my unemployed status, I can get ready at short notice (my telescope is always kept in my hallway). I want to share in the excitement and atmosphere of these twitches as much as anyone else, and I am left feeling excluded and frustrated when no offers are made.

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I have put several pics of the bird on my blog at http://pewit.blogspot.com/2010/05/orien ... ncole.html -- too time consuming at this time of night to upload them all to the site -- the diagnostic ID article is Dutch Birding Vol 27 Issue 1 2005page 1 -14

as noted on the blog this bird does indeed have a narrow pale buff trailing edge to the secondaries but also has buff bases to the outer prims and median prim coverts -- the diagnostic oval nostril is visible in some pics -- the tail pattern is also diagnostic as is the shape due to length of outers; other support features are the peachy breast band, rich ochre nape and neck sides, restricted red on underside of lower mandible, pale shaft to outermost primary, rich coloured throat patch, relative long leg length and deep based bill;

I must tell Wayne I owe him one -- nice chap

Hi Katherine,
Ive limited transport facilities just the same,im willing to pay petrol,but it ends up i either get there somehow myself or forget it!.people panic when a rare bird turns up and just shoot of,that s the genral rule,not saying everyone is like that about picking others up,i remember some lads ,i think from lincoln,who said once to me "we daren"t leave anyone out,the car is full",seems silly all going on their own as i understand what happens a lot.oh well.
Roger.

I go by the Golden Rule - always treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. I would never dream of denying another person the treat of seeing a Mega like this and would go out of my way and do my very best to ensure that the other person gets to enjoy the same spectacle as me. I am always generous of spirit, and kind at heart.

When I meet people on these forums on the reserves, I always get the feeling that I am appreciated, well-liked and popular. But yet, I am left out of these people's trips to the two reserves. I can't understand why people who apparently like me can leave me out of local birdwatching trips when they know I am as keen as mustard to go out birding more than I do at present. I want to feel involved and included.

I look up to people on here enormously; I am in awe of their abilities. When I signed up here, I knew my place in it. I was an ignorant little squit compared with others on here. I believed firmly (and still do) that their experience and years in the field can benefit me enormously in improving and finding confidence in my fieldcraft and bird ID skills. They have a virtual smorgasboard of great birding knowledge in their brains, far more than I do. In passing that on to me, and sharing in their experiences in the field, I can go on to share that with other people, and so the birding world gets more informed, more cohesive and more populous.

People who share a common interest should help, not hinder others who are in pursuit of the same kind of happiness, and the same kind of dreams and ambitions. Birdwatching is a whole lot better when it's shared with others.

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Katherine,

I sent a private message at 07:30 this morning but it's still in my "outbox" i.e. not sent yet. I don't know if I'm supposed to press another button to send.

Can you send me a private message with your contact details instead?

Cheers,

Linda

Hi Katherine,
AND all,
My pig might fly comments was a bit out of order and i apologise,ive amended/edited my submission,also Katherine I do hope that you see the bird,
best wishes katherine,
|Roger.

I didn't really want to express this publicly but readers might think from Katherine's submission that we are heartless, unfeeling, selfish beasts in Lincs birding and I'd like to redress the balance. I have on three occasions contacted Katherine with offers to take her birding when I have been heading towards Frampton or Freiston where I have led groups and on all three occasions my offer to pick her up, show her round, along with my group, and take her home have been rejected. Personally I have known some very generous spirited birders in this county who have gone out of their way to help me and I, for one (and I know I'm far from alone) try to do the same for others.

John

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Lincolnshire Birds https://www.flickr.com/photos/120340949 ... 8078912016
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Contact: recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

Hi John,
I totally agree,i know loads of lincs birders,really nice lads,unfortunatly they live a long way from me ,I think katherine and I in the heat of the excitement gave an overall misleading impression,
best regards John and All,

Roger.

The bird has been showing well on the North Scrape all day.

If you visit please could you avoid the temptation to stand on top of the earth bank on approaching the East Hide. While the pratincole does not appear at all bothered we do have lots of nesting lapwings etc which are much more prone to disturbance.

Thanks,

John

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Contact: recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk

Beautiful sight, this. Saw it flying and inside a bush! The bird does seem darker in the throat, but that was probably because of the light.

Note to Kathryn, a bus goes along the major road to Spalding from Boston, the InterConnect 5. From there, it's only 2 miles or so, I'm sure one of the birders would give you a lift down to it from there.

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Alastair Carr

Where there is a will, there is a way....

Toys back in pram - thanks to Chris Grimshaw who gave me the lift down to the reserve! Bird showing excellently up until about 17:30 when we left!

1 species closer to that pizza party!

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