If there is one thing that annoys the hell out of me, [and I've complained to Andy Chick in the past and recently sent an e-mail to Phil Espin who must be away because I have not received an answer of yet] is the continued allowance of Schedule 1 birds to be allowed on the photo album! I've just seen one taken by Vernon Barker of a Marsh Harrier carrying nesting material at Far Ings and I've made a comment that it is wrong that it is allowed.
We are not allowed to report on sightings during the breeding season unless the birds are at a site with a warden etc. My local site [MSQ] has a warden but sightings from here are and have been removed by the admin staff, WHY? It's okay for Far Ings to have their schedule 1 birds reported on because they have a warden, WHY? Even with an onsite warden they cannot be in two places at once and Far Ings is a massive reserve!
As far as I'm concerned it shouldn't matter if a site has a warden or not unless that person has an army of volunteers like at some Osprey etc sites on guard 24/7! All photos should be BANNED from appearing in the album till after the breeding season! What difference would a few months make, answer none!
Before someone accuses me of putting any of these birds on the album, yes I have but only because others have and I mean the semi-pros, who I think should know better. A couple of years back I took hundreds of photos and video of a pair of Stonechat with juvs at a site on my local patch but I didn't put any of the photos in the album until well after the birds had finished breeding and left.
I know there will be flack fired my way but I'm ready to answer it as best as I can.
Should I have kept my opinions to myself, maybe, but I'm not known for doing that.
Until the rules are changed about putting photos in the album/reporting I will continue to do so if I
think fit.
Kind regards
John aka Max
I have received an e-mail from Andy Chick confirming that Phil sent me an e-mail on the 14th but I never received it so thanks for replying.
Regards
John