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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Farnboro John" data-source="post: 1586887" data-attributes="member: 36432">I'll put a bit of my own honesty in here - it worked in my favour and for several of my mates, so here goes....Some years ago I was seawatching in Cornwall and it was rubbish, hardly anything moving.  Just before midday (I think) the pager announced there was a summer-plumaged Greater Sand Plover at Pagham Harbour (you know what's coming now, don't you?)Because I was already in the field, I didn't have anything I could refer to before seeing the bird - it was going to be enough of an effort to get there from Pendeen, without dog-legging home.  Anyway I saw the Dawlish Warren GSP - big solid plover with a huge conk.  I fancied seeing one in summer plumage.Drove quite quickly to Pagham, arrived at Church Norton to find a good-sized crowd watching the bird.  Because I hadn't boned up in advance I reckon I looked at it harder and in a much more structured way than I might normally.Got home, got the books out.  Grilled plates, read text, went through it all again.Couldn't make it fit.  Started looking at other plates, and then rang a few mates and told them to go see the bird cos I couldn't make it a GSP.Three weeks later word starts leaking the BW is writing it up as a Lesser.....Sometimes its better not to have preconceptions.  Always look at the bird in front of you.  Never rely solely on anyone else - even if they have a good rep......John</blockquote>