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Message: <blockquote data-quote="HH75" data-source="post: 1586825" data-attributes="member: 61">:clap:This is most commendable, and something which is always to be strived for. By all means, of course, take on board what others are saying, but, of course, the trouble being that some birders do embody the maxim 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing', and it can be tough, when one is inexperienced, to distinguish between true expertise and misinformation presented with authority... :eek!:  The good news is that, as one gains more experience even with species they have already seen, things do become easier, though let me stress that one never stops learning, and never ceases to make at least the occasional mistake...once one is honest with oneself, looks critically at (and listens to) the birds they see, and is prepared to admit to any mistakes and learn from them, then things should work out alright. Take time to gain familiarity with the commoner species...for Leach's, say, read up on them, watch video, look long and hard at any European Storm-petrels that you might see, ask yourself why they are Europeans, and what you would expect to see on them were they Leach's, study how they fly etc, and, when you do come across a Leach's, it should stand out like a sore thumb.  You'll be fine, trust me...I had a 'night of the long knives' where my list is concerned back around 1996 (or late 1995), removing anything dodgy I had seen up to then, but, thankfully, I have seen everything since that I had removed at that time.                                            Regards,                                                 Harry</blockquote>

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