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[alcina2]

Well that was unexpected. Just about to cook dinner, checked the bird news: gull-billed tern just the other side of Barnsley. Thank the Gods I hadn't drunk any alcohol

Comments

[ironlord]

Here's something I never thought to ask until now (no idea why, it just occurred to me): if you're competing with others on how many birds you've seen, do you have to show evidence, or is it purely done on trust (i.e. "someone said they'd seen a gull-billed tern the other side of Barnsley, so I can say I've seen one and everyone will believe me"). In this day and age I can imagine the powers that be will insist on a photo, but surely then I'd have seen loads of posts by now that say "Arse, my camera's run out of batteries" or "Arse, the gull-billed tern flew away before I could get a picture". Or the picture was taken but it was blurred.

[alcina2]

Generally it's taken on trust, although there are always nasty rumours. Many really top birders Do photograph anythin rare. Another way is to state which other birders saw you seeing the bird. In the past people have carried a log and asked bystanders to sign it (though that was in America).

[ironlord]

Presumably you'll never have to prove some of the sightings.

"April 24th. Saw a blackbird in the garden. And a thrush, and a robin... there's a sparrow, never seen one of those before..."

How many do you usually get by the end of the first week of January?

[alcina2]

This year I got 66 in the first 3 days. Then had to go back to work.

This year's list is here: http://www.bubo.org/Listing/view-list.html?list_id=20549 and sortable by any of the headings.

[tiggymalvern]

It's always convenient when the rare birds show up close to home. My plans for tomorrow are now a 50 mile trip to Skykomish for the crested caracara. Which is about as expected as a gull-billed tern in Barnsley.

[alcina2]

Good luck!