The ultimate mis-identification

[Reader]

Just read on the pager:

W.Isles reported Bee-eater on Lewis is a Pink Footed Goose.

Way to go!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Hotspur]

How the?

[the bird]

I bet the 'birder' whoever reported that feels a bit of a Parus major.

[the bird]

what the hells going on I'm seeing treble !!!!!!

[SimonC]

what the hells going on I'm seeing treble !!!!!!
It's been happening a lot this afternoon I've noticed.


Can't get my head round how on earth a PFG can be taken as a Bee-eater?????
were there hallucinogens involved do we think?

[robinm]

I've just seen a Golden Eagle out of my window ...


Sorry, it's a Greenfinch.

;)

[Tim Allwood]

there was a Slender-billed Curlew last year I heard

somewhere

Tim

[CJW]

there was a Slender-billed Curlew last year I heard

somewhere

Tim
Not in Britain, there wasn't.

[Tim Allwood]

not according to me, you, and Jane, Chris

oh, i do hate dragging that up every time

Tim

[Reader]

Oh boy!! I can see a thread building here of posible miss ID's. :h?:

[Bluetail]

W.Isles reported Bee-eater on Lewis is a Pink Footed Goose.Incredible. What was it doing then? Sitting on a wire? Hawking insects? Calling like a Bee-eater? Perhaps the names of the two species sound similar in Gaelic, expecially after a bottle or two of single malt? And how does such a dodgy record get phoned in? I'm with Tom - it sounds rather like a joke to me.

Beats the Woolston Eyes "Common Nighthawk", er... Cockatiel, anyway.

[trealawboy]

Incredible. What was it doing then? Sitting on a wire? Hawking insects? Calling like a Bee-eater? Perhaps the names of the two species sound similar in Gaelic, expecially after a bottle or two of single malt? And how does such a dodgy record get phoned in? I'm with Tom - it sounds rather like a joke to me.

Beats the Woolston Eyes "Common Nighthawk", er... Cockatiel, anyway.


It was eating bees, surely?

[Bluetail]

It was eating bees, surely?Dunno. Maybe it was hollowing out a nesthole.

[Keith Reeder]

Never seen a pink-foot hawking insects?

Always has me reaching for the Collins...

[Reader]

Never seen a pink-foot hawking insects?

Always has me reaching for the Collins...

Never heard a Bee-eater honking...

[Keith Reeder]

;)

Aye - and the way that hundreds of them fly over in v-formation?

Classic confusion species...

[Stephen Dunstan]

Never heard a Bee-eater honking...

I've never heard a Pinkfoot honking. Much more pleasant and musical.

More seriously, without any knowledge of the circumstances isn't all this getting a little out of hand?

Stephen.

[Reader]

I've never heard a Pinkfoot honking. Much more pleasant and musical.

More seriously, without any knowledge of the circumstances isn't all this getting a little out of hand?

Stephen.

Not really.

It was reported as such and we are all making our comments.

Still I am open to a situation where a Pink footed Goose can be mis-ID'd as a Bee-eater. I am sure there are plenty of scenario's.

[Keith Reeder]

I don't think that a bit of light hearted commentary is untoward, Stephen.

I mean - be honest - regardless of the whys and wherefores, it is quite a "blooper", even if it turns out that it was the Bird Alert (or whichever) member of staff that mixed things up.

[Bluetail]

Yes, just a bit of fun. Certainly no malice intended on my part and I'm sure that goes for all of us. You must admit, it's a bit puzzling though.

[jpoyner]

I think this just clearly demonstrates the demise of field skills of some of todays birders. Always eliminate the commoner species first before jumping to conclusions and take careful field notes.
If necessary call a local experienced birder to confirm. In this case the tertial pattern should have been quite obvious in good light, though I guess viewing conditions may have been poor. Viewing through the small end of your scope is also a very useful tip. ;)

JP

[jpoyner]

Not really.

It was reported as such and we are all making our comments.

Still I am open to a situation where a Pink footed Goose can be mis-ID'd as a Bee-eater. I am sure there are plenty of scenario's.

Not unless the use of an hallucinogenic substance was involved surely ? ;)

[Bluetail]

Anyone got some good mushrooms? I need to grip back Sibe Rubythroat.

[tomjenner]

Beats the Woolston Eyes "Common Nighthawk", er... Cockatiel, anyway.
I had already spent an hour hitchhiking for that one, before I stopped at a service station and heard the news. No worries, I had the chance to go for a second one on scilly a couple of years later. We had all booked a boat to get off St Agnes, before news came over that it was actually a cow pat.
Tom

[Reader]

Not unless the use of an hallucinogenic substance was involved surely ? ;)

You see, I knew there would be an explanation. :-O :-O

[Tim Allwood]

I know a top birder, now asian nutter who found a Bonelli's on mushrooms

accepted by BBRC too

Tim

[Clouseau]

Wow! How was the Bonelli's preparing them? Or was he eating them raw to stay within the law LOL!
(They are EVERYWHERE at F******gg Hall this year!)

[Tim Allwood]

Hey Mr C

I think this thread could quickly go places it shouldn't. You know the bloke though. Norwich boy.

Exactly how many Bonelli's Warblers are at Felbrigg Hall this year?

sticking to the vino this year, don't really need any ticks.

Tim

[Allen S. Moore]

If a common nighthawk was in the same posture as a cow pat, would it have been trying to avoid detection by some passing raptor, or was the cow pat moving through the air? Duck!

[Tim Allwood]

Hi Allen

I was one of the first to 'get onto' the cow pat

despite studying it for a few minutes it didn't seem to do much

and it was too early for any medicinal assistance to convince me it was

good memories though

Tim

[Allen S. Moore]

Hi Allen

I was one of the first to 'get onto' the cow pat

despite studying it for a few minutes it didn't seem to do much

and it was too early for any medicinal assistance to convince me it was

good memories though

Tim
I suppose that getting 'onto' a cow pat is better than getting 'into' it!

[Bluetail]

If a common nighthawk was in the same posture as a cow pat, would it have been trying to avoid detection by some passing raptor, or was the cow pat moving through the air? Duck!Lookee here, Mr Moore. Have you ever studied a cow pat's humerals? Not a pretty sight, I can assure you. Whilst I acknowledge that it is quite understandable for a cow pat to be misidentified as a duck - after all, in many peoples' eyes they are the classic confusion species - the particular record in question is, was, and always will have been utter cr*p! ;)

[Allen S. Moore]

Lookee here, Mr Moore. Have you ever studied a cow pat's humerals? Not a pretty sight, I can assure you. Whilst I acknowledge that it is quite understandable for a cow pat to be misidentified as a duck - after all, in many peoples' eyes they are the classic confusion species - the particular record in question is, was, and always will have been utter cr*p! ;)
Although cow pats are normally silent, there is the possibility of a noise not unlike a muffled quack when you put your foot in a semi-solid one.

[Bluetail]

This aspect of the confusability, of course, well known to the BBRC, many of whom have put their foot in it at one time or another.

[Allen S. Moore]

This aspect of the confusability, of course, well known to the BBRC, many of whom have put their foot in it at one time or another.
Excellent observation, Jason!