CONFUSED! Teals (1 Viewer)

[gold21]

Can somebody put me on the right track please.
While out yesterday graffing at Leighton Moss somebody pointed out that the bird I was taking the picture of was not a Teal, but a Green-winged Teal.
The subject certainly did have green wing flashes, but, is it genuine (Green-winged Teal) and is it a legit sub species?
I uploaded a picture onto the photo gallery earlier today with said bird as subject, but with a species as unsure note, and nobody as ventured as to what the two birds were!
It set me wondering, are Teal and Green-winged separate within the UK?
This birding hobby is confusing enough at present (newboy in the woods) but surely they dont suddenly change species names, do they?
Ken

 

[trw]

Generally if a Green winged Teal had been spotted there it would be on the Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society website.It is a well watched site with regular updates on the website.Just looking at it there is no mention of Green Winged Teal.
The thing to look out for on a male GWT is the vertical white flash on the side of the breast.The GWT is the American version and sometimes they find their way across here.
If it was a female GWT I wouldn't have the foggiest how to separate it from a female Common Teal.As far as I know they are virtually the same-but I stand to be corrected.
You have to be careful at Leighton.There are a lot of well meaning but inexperienced birdwatchers who make claims about birds which are simply plain wrong eg Curlew Sandpiper which turn out to be Dunlin, Lesser Black Back Gulls which are supposed to be Yellow Legged Gulls and Common Redshanks awarded the status of Spotted Redshanks.
The observers go home happy thinking they have seen something rare -so alls well that ends well.

 

[Andy Adcock]

It set me wondering, are Teal and Green-winged separate within the UK?

Ken

GwT is American and as such, a rarity, it is a valid species.

Andy

 

[dan pointon]

Should be added that all Eurasian Teal have this green wing flash as the birds in your picture show, the name Green-winged Teal is an example of one which doesn't describe characteristics unique to that species

 

[Phil Andrews]

GwT is American and as such, a rarity, it is a valid species.

Andy

At the minute ....

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Did you mean this picture? http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/565472/limit/recent

I don't know if it's possible to identify the American form in this plumage. If I saw them at Leighton Moss I'd call them Teal, and assume they were Eurasian Teal rather than Green-winged Teal. As already mentioned, whether or not the two forms are separate species is always up for debate!

 

[Andy Adcock]

At the minute ....

What's the word then, to be lumped, hadn't heard?


Andy

 

[Phil Andrews]

What's the word then, to be lumped, hadn't heard?


Andy

That's the mutterings I have heard.

 

[gold21]

Thanks to you all, didnt realise there were politics in the birding world ))
Had kind of figured there was some cause for "tongue in cheek" approach on the Teal, especially yesterday, as the Sedge Warbler I asked for help with on this forum was being advertised by some present as a Cetti's Warbler (which would have been a lifer for me) the Allen pool contained what I knew were 2 Dunlin, but were being advised by a few as Little Stints (more lifers for me) and the Teal, well just a Teal, not another lifer sad to say!
Most helpful replies gents, the Lancaster & District site will certainly be on the search bar after mail is sent out!
To all involved, regards and thanks again.
Ken

 

[Rotherbirder]

Thanks to you all, didnt realise there were politics in the birding world ))
Had kind of figured there was some cause for "tongue in cheek" approach on the Teal, especially yesterday, as the Sedge Warbler I asked for help with on this forum was being advertised by some present as a Cetti's Warbler (which would have been a lifer for me) the Allen pool contained what I knew were 2 Dunlin, but were being advised by a few as Little Stints (more lifers for me) and the Teal, well just a Teal, not another lifer sad to say!
Most helpful replies gents, the Lancaster & District site will certainly be on the search bar after mail is sent out!
To all involved, regards and thanks again.
Ken

Herein lies a lesson Ken. Do not take the word of others as gospel. Question everything; ask yourself why it is what it is and in this way you will progress quickly. Get to grips with the common species and you'll know when you've got something 'different'. Birding is a test of patience, diligence and careful observation. Spend regular time in the field and it will come; soon you'll have the skill and confidence to put these people right yourself. Good birding ...

RB

 

[trw]

Thanks to you all, didnt realise there were politics in the birding world ))
Had kind of figured there was some cause for "tongue in cheek" approach on the Teal, especially yesterday, as the Sedge Warbler I asked for help with on this forum was being advertised by some present as a Cetti's Warbler (which would have been a lifer for me) the Allen pool contained what I knew were 2 Dunlin, but were being advised by a few as Little Stints (more lifers for me) and the Teal, well just a Teal, not another lifer sad to say!
Most helpful replies gents, the Lancaster & District site will certainly be on the search bar after mail is sent out!
To all involved, regards and thanks again.
Ken

Dunlins can go three ways at Leighton- Dunlin,Little Stint or Curlew Sandpiper.
Take you pick!

 

[Pete Mella]

There's a certain type of birder that hangs round all flagship reserves that knows a little bit, but likes to play the expert to people who are less experienced than them. They'll make huge mistakes, but say it so authoritatively that people presume they know what they're talking about. When they don't know something, they'll make it up anyway.

Always beware of "man in hide"!

 

[bob the birder]

what's graffing?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Herein lies a lesson Ken. Do not take the word of others as gospel.

RB

Unless it's Paul Holt......I embarased myself once on the Scillies, giving him the third degree about a Buff-bellied Pipit until I got the 'do you know who that is'.......very embarassing!


Andy

 

[Andy Adcock]

what's graffing?

Where did you see that?

Wikipedia (just for FPS :t has the word as being associated with graffiti?

A

 

[delia todd]

what's graffing?

Where did you see that?

Wiki has the word as being associated with graffiti?

Andy

In the opening post. I wondered what it was too... just thought it was some local dialect word!

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

Slang for "photographing"?

 

[delia todd]

:-O

Simple when you know, isn't it!!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Slang for "photographing"?

Yes,
what is becoming of our language, I despair at times, becoming so lazy that we can't say the whole word and corrupting it to the point that we have to guess the meaning!


Andy

 

[delia todd]

Yes I agree with you Andy, but let's not take the thread off topic.