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  1. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Cant' upload picture - its too big - anyone wants a copy, email me
  2. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I think it should be known - that not everyone is convinced of the age of this bird, im not naming names, and don't want the 'age debate' to start again, but some respected birders still think it's a juvenile, and they have good reasoning behind their theories too.
  3. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    That is interesting - maybe not so extinct then. To claim a bird as extinct, esp. considering the HUGE potential breeing area SBC have to choose from, does seem to be 'jumping the gun'. If all the birders in Norfolk were told there was one 'somewhere' in the county, i doubt they could...
  4. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    A couple of points: 1st) the last photo posted by Tim was taken by Tony Disley 2nd) mtDNA would (to the best of my knowledge) only provide the identification to one of the parents (the female i think), so this may not be as conclusive as people think. If it turns out to be a SBC, it could be a...
  5. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I doubt it will even be submitted now. Having been involved in a private email discussion with many of the key people involved in this bird, it appears that all have come to the conclusion that, although they dont' know what it is, it has too many anomolies to be regarded as a SBC. One thing is...
  6. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Was it accepted? (or even submitted?). If not - who knows what you saw!
  7. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I actually meant have you seen the bird at minsmere in the field? NO. Thus, easy to judge from a distance- one thing that was established was that it does look different in the field than in the photos. I think you will recall that only recently has the age be considered to be an adult. Its...
  8. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    They are the photos, taken by a friend of mine, that i quoted earlier - it's very hard to see any pro-SBC features now. Ironically, we all probably know more now about a species we will probably never see, than we ever have done before!
  9. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I don't think its anything to do with people being intransigent, people are just reading, learning, discovering, changing their perspective and eventually coming to a conclusion, then sometimes changing their minds when fresh info arrives! Thats not being stubborn, thats just the learning curve...
  10. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I have been emailed some very good photos of the minsmere bird today (not currently published on the WWW, but much better than anything seen so far), and have now had a very sudden change of heart (although i never claimed it was one, only that i could see the potential of SBC in some features)...
  11. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Varying opinions on call. Some describe it spot on for EC, while others say it is slightly higher pitched, and more like SBC
  12. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    quote from Christopher Zockler: " it is sincerely hoped that future expeditions will find the breeding areas for Slender-billed Curlews, but for the equally threatened Steppe Whimbrel, conservation actions could be taken right now" BW 11: 274. Furthermore, as i just stated, the call and head...
  13. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Steppe Whimbrel are, firstly very rare, being rarely seen by scientists who have been searching for SBC's, and secondly, although they superficially resemble SBC they should show a prominent median crown stripe. Futhermore, the call would (i guess) be similar to Whimbrel, and the Minsmere bird...
  14. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    And this was my reply to the above comments by LGRE. Im glad somebody has finally addressed this issue of a hybrid bird, after my comments yesterday. The Russian information is very interesting, do you have a source or reference Lee so that others can also read about this issue? For such an...
  15. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    The following comments have been made by LGRE on the uk400club yahoogroup. Lancashire birder and artist Tony Disley has provided some more detailed images of the Minsmere curlew and in my opinion they prove beyond doubt that the bird is an ADULT. The tertials are seen to be heavily...
  16. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    The bird on the right of the photo as you look at it.
  17. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I dont think there is really any doubts that only one bird has been present since the original postings of photos on surfbirds by Brian Small. He has now watched the bird for 24 hours in total, and has visited during both the week and weekend. I think you'll find the effects of 'different...
  18. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Also, of interest. Spoke to another birding friend of mine, who saw the bird yesterday. Whilst he was there, all the birds were flushed (he didn't note what by), whereas all the godwits and EC took flight, the bird in question stayed put, and lowered itself to the ground. He also saw it 'neck...
  19. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Just as a foot-note to this debate - if it is trapped, or more likely, it is confirmed somehow in the field as a EC, then i would be just as happy, and will certainly be more prepared for any future 'scares'. Bird ID is the best part about birding for me. Listing and lists is just a bi-product...
  20. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    If it couldn't be sorted out in the hand (by biometrics and feather deatail, ie number of white primary tips for ageing). Then i don't see why it still couldn't be colour-ringed (although i don't know BTOs exact rules on bird ringing).
  21. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

  22. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    I've heard that a permit has been applied for to try and cannon mist net the bird
  23. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Shot in the dark here - but im guessing you've not seen it! For those of us who have seen it, and feel it's likely to be a SBC, this is because we have studied the bird, taken notes, and then compared them to known SBC skins (photos) and photos. For me, it isn't about the 'tick', its about the...
  24. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    Read my comments above to see reasons why it is presumably a SBC. If it is an aberant Curlew, then can someone please give an educated answer as to why? I have now spoken to so many people, all of whom have seen the bird in the field, and the vast majority feel it is a SBC, a few still don't...
  25. M

    Curlew sp. at Minsmere

    People have commented that it may have fed in a faster manner than Eurasian (comments also made about the Duridge bird), and this was evident on the short-video clip on BBC news on Friday, however this feature was considered of little use on the Duridge bird.
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