BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="KenM" data-source="post: 3564345" data-attributes="member: 57880">Yes.....I think that quantifying "the self found" is not an easy one.For starters as Andy alluded...Dotterel, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Golden Eagle (Capercaille...would still be a lifer for me :eek!<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />  Although the former were all found, in the "purest sense" they would not constitute..."real finds" as Cairngorm and the surrounding area is a well known site for all of the former.Then there were my dog's finds "formidable" indeed, and it's fair to say...that without his not inconsiderable flushing abilities, I would be a few self founds short, although all of his, and mine took place in mostly, non recognised birding areas.There's also the "regional difference" issue, i.e. Red-backed Shrikes, YBW's, Rosefinch and Barred Warbler more numerous in the Northern Isles, than further South...so perhaps the odd brownie point for self finding by "Southern Softies" there, and conversely Firecrest, Legret and Cetti's for "Northern Hardies".Real "self founds" should be dealt with ruthlessly by the finder, with perhaps location being an integral part of this, as offshore islands and headlands will certainly "concentrate" with a greater return (not to say that they are without merit, of course they are). However compared to say...Robert Calf's, Herts, London...Grey-Cheeked Thrush, they might just pale a little? This was certainly "top drawer" and found whilst monitoring the (very scarce) Marsh Tit, (don't know if he found any of the latter?)...still, he more than made up with the former.At day end, it's all down to one's "own interpretation" of what's considered deserving as a "self found" two weeks on Fair Isle, day in and day out, being hammered by force 8 North Easterlies/Westerlies, with driving rain and blanket grey skies....and finding a Red-tailed Robin!!!, or popping down the local "Chippy" in your car, and seeing a group of Redwings flying out of a Hawthorn Hedge with a Dusky Thrush in tow!!!I suspect the Fair Isle example would be the preferred...the phrase "no gain without pain" being the more deserving, with the latter being pure luck?FWIW....if anybody is in danger of going North of the 50% self found average, I can do a "good deal" on straightjackets. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

Verification