Allan Hobbs
Body in the UK, heart in South Africa
Roc.
Well you did say fantasy bird
Allan
Well you did say fantasy bird
Allan
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What's your fantasy bird? (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andy Hall
- Start date
John Cantelo
Well-known member
What a disappointing lack of imagination!
To trump the Tufted Puffin - which is where this thread is coming from - the bird has to meet certain criteria -
1) - it has to be a first for Europe or the WP (which rules out most suggested contenders).
2) - it has to be totally 'off-the-wall' -Tuftie was predicted, but not widely so.
3) - it has to be really exotic - another 'also ran' Yank warbler (it'll be in autumnal plumage too!) just won't cut the ice.
4) - it cannot have any potential as an escapee to muddy the waters - so no ducks which must be a good thing anyhow.
5) - it must be bloomin obvious to identify - we definitely do NOT want another SBC (or a Gray's Gropper come to that!)
6) - it has to have a certain mythic quality - that is it should get all birders positively drooling with desire - so out goes Sharapova.
No, in my opinion it can only be one bird, a bird that is a MEGA on a global scale and would make the frenzy over the Tuftie a mere ripple of interest, some will say my choise is a fantasy too far, but I say let's fantasise big time ....... Ladies and gentlemen I give you ....... SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER!!
To trump the Tufted Puffin - which is where this thread is coming from - the bird has to meet certain criteria -
1) - it has to be a first for Europe or the WP (which rules out most suggested contenders).
2) - it has to be totally 'off-the-wall' -Tuftie was predicted, but not widely so.
3) - it has to be really exotic - another 'also ran' Yank warbler (it'll be in autumnal plumage too!) just won't cut the ice.
4) - it cannot have any potential as an escapee to muddy the waters - so no ducks which must be a good thing anyhow.
5) - it must be bloomin obvious to identify - we definitely do NOT want another SBC (or a Gray's Gropper come to that!)
6) - it has to have a certain mythic quality - that is it should get all birders positively drooling with desire - so out goes Sharapova.
No, in my opinion it can only be one bird, a bird that is a MEGA on a global scale and would make the frenzy over the Tuftie a mere ripple of interest, some will say my choise is a fantasy too far, but I say let's fantasise big time ....... Ladies and gentlemen I give you ....... SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER!!
Edward
Umimmak
It would be nice on the year list, it has to be said.
Mike Richardson
Formerly known as Skink1978
A Great-horned Owl (ringed last year in Florida).
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
So would I !
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
Roc.
Well you did say fantasy bird
Allan
That's much more like it!
I agree with John: if we're going to be talking fantasy birds, let's go all out!
Mine would be a Bachmann's Warbler, spotted just before it hits a mist net, at the Breakwater (ringing) Station, LPBO.
(I would, naturally, have be the ringer-in-charge at the time...)|^|
Peter C.
Tri-Counties Birder
AKA The Portland Naturalist
Lets be serious.
Okay not a WP first, but a Black-shouldered Kite appearring in my bins would probably cause me to keel over.
Surely the definiton of a cosmic mind f****r!
Okay not a WP first, but a Black-shouldered Kite appearring in my bins would probably cause me to keel over.
Surely the definiton of a cosmic mind f****r!
They breed in toilets!
A Limpkin on the little marsh just south of Marloes would be pretty cool.
John Cantelo
Well-known member
Too many Great-horned Owls are in captivity to get a serious look in .... unless it had an American ring on its leg. Azure Tit is sufficiently mythical, but, in my opinion, fails to come up to the 'Tufted Puffin' standard as it's too 'common' in a European context,
Jan-Paul Charteris
Sussex birder and budding moth enthusiast
Id say Grays Gropper, being a Great Reed Warbler sized locustella would be pretty obvious to identify and can you just imagine the horror when someone posts a pic from somewhere on the East coast on the ID forum saying 'Little Stint with deformed bill?...Norfolk...2 weeks ago...long gone...etc' ??!
Erm, personally id have Red-legged Kittiwake or Brown Booby off Sussex somewhere. One blindingly obvious but regular right at the other end of the WP, and the other rare as Rocking Horse...erm.. faeces, but could easily be overlooked!
Jan
P.s. I have actually seen a Kittiwake with red legs in Britain, but no it definately wasnt to be (i.e. it was a Black-legged in every way except the legs). Ruddy thing! I did read somewhere afterwards that B-L Kittiwakes with red legs do occur infrequently though, so at least proved I wasnt going mad(der)
and can you just imagine the horror when someone posts a pic from somewhere on the East coast on the ID forum saying 'Little Stint with deformed bill?...Norfolk...2 weeks ago...long gone...etc' ??! Erm, personally id have Red-legged Kittiwake or Brown Booby off Sussex somewhere. One blindingly obvious but regular right at the other end of the WP, and the other rare as Rocking Horse...erm.. faeces, but could easily be overlooked!
Jan
P.s. I have actually seen a Kittiwake with red legs in Britain, but no it definately wasnt to be (i.e. it was a Black-legged in every way except the legs). Ruddy thing! I did read somewhere afterwards that B-L Kittiwakes with red legs do occur infrequently though, so at least proved I wasnt going mad(der)
steveo
King Midas in reverse
In the realm of possibility Two birds that have been seen within 30 (probably less) miles of my yard. Gyr and Snowy. Please don't make me choose. Imagine in the dead of winter roamimng the forests and fields looking for waxwings and crossbills and boo yaaa it would be f#### great.
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John_WA
Well-known member
Beat me to it!
