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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RoyCo" data-source="post: 1842216" data-attributes="member: 58339">Indeed - and I can confirm that I have not taken any offence at all by what Steve has posted here or in our e-mail exchange. He has a valid point to make concerning people who expect to see certain birds in certain areas because they have been previously reported from that area or, indeed, who do not contribute at all. In all honesty, I was unaware that FTW sightings were scarce on Lesvos and, more to the point, that the Christou River area was the last reported breeding site of the little varmints! My report was done in good faith, based on a brief but reasonable look at a bird (admittedly whilst I was trying to get see a Cetti's blasting out from behind it), noting down that FTW was the "favourite ID". Certainly I would have preferred a longer sighting and one of it in flight but also subsequently that same evening, in conversation with two couples who had been on the island for a week or more (it was our first day!), they said that they had identified a FTW in the same area before I mentioned my own possible sighting. This type of exchange is usually invaluable for birders and I took it to add weight to my presumptive ID. Of course, they may have been influenced by prior references and I may have been mistaken and without a photograph (or even my wife seeing the same bird) I have no real or, indeed conclusive, evidence to give - therefore, any official report could never be ratified. However, it is hopeful that FTW are indeed in that locale and fingers crossed that they decide to breed there again (and also, that someone has a positive sighting of them!). I should add that I am a fully paid-up member of the BTO and have submitted records to them for 10 years or thereabouts so I realise the importance of submitting records whatever their immediate value - then just a case of logically grading that value. Steve does a great service to the Ornithological Society of Greece, along with others ... and I await eagerly for the blank cheque in the post Steve <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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