The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I was birdwatching alone at Pyes' Hall early this morning endeavouring to photograph an elusive but very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler in a sycamore tree. Having lost the bird, I started to lose interest but out of the corner of my eye a small bird flew in and landed atop a hawthorn bush. I immediately swung my camera lens round on to what was obviously a bunting and a rustic-looking bunting at that! It didn't look settled but in the short space of time it was there I was able to take four images whereupon the bird took flight and appeared to drop and fly behind the hedge eastwards and that was that. Through the viewfinder I had a strong suspicion that it was a Rustic Bunting but as I have only ever seen one Rustic Bunting, an adult male, this one was going to be more of a challenge. There was no-one else around to share the sighting with so after a quick look at my images I tried to relocate the bird but several walks up and down the hedgerow drew a complete blank.
Always reluctant to put any news out until I am 100% sure, I said nothing wanting to check confirmatory features with reference material at home. Although it looked a good case for Rustic, winter buntings can be a trap for the unwary. Apart from the rustic tone of the breast and flank streaking, other good features are the shape of the bill - a little larger than Reed and the upper mandible being straight along the culmen not convex like Reed Bunting's. The colour of the bill is different too - pinkish lower mandible not grey as in Reed. Another confirmatory identification feature for Rustic is a white spot to the rear of the ear-coverts which can be seen in the images. Other features seen in the images are the high peaked crown (although it is in an alert posture) and the bright orange legs. I did not hear the bird call which would have been helpful. Have a look at the images in the album.

I'm furious absolutely furious!

Why would you not tell anyone on site or show some people the images there were lots of people on site today, myself included GPC was down he would be able to identify that as a Rustic bunting from the back of the camera for you.

YES IT IS A RUSTIC BUNTING!!

Now I understand why you didn't put news out, that makes sense if your not sure don't put it out. But a bit of common sense surely if you've seen something of interest tell others on site about it and a group of birders can look for the bird together! And probably relocate the bird!

What time did you see this bird please Mike?

_________________
http://anthonybentleywildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

UK life list 310 (Harlequin Duck)
Lincolnshire List 246 (Puffin)
Village (Brigsley) list 99 (Shelduck)

Thanks Anthony

bemused is the only word I can think of --

Hi Mike.
On nodding terms with you today thanks to Anthony telling me names of who was present at Pyes this morning.

Wish I had spoken to you now but you were a little busy with the Yellow-browed at the time.
I fully understanding what your saying about being sure about the I.D but really do wish you'd mentioned it this morning to the birders present. We could have looked at the camera shots together and then all looked for your Rustic bunting! Pity.

There's no shame in getting It wrong, we've all been there Mike.
I know from experience what its like to be 200% sure of the ID of a bird. by coincidence also at Donna Nook one late afternoon. I reported it ASAP but it wasn't seen again next day.
Asked to submit the record, I did only to have it rejected. The reasons given were a joke but such is life.

Re: Second. unidentified bird at Pyes today.
Anthony and I spoke with another birder later, whose name I unfortunately didn't get.
He showed us a blown up and rather haze looking picture of a bird he had a fleeting glimpse of but managed to get a shot off with it in the corner of the frame. Hence the blown up hazey comment.
That blurred image is driving me crazy now & I wish I'd looked closer now.

I wonder if that's 2 that got away today at Pyes?

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

I was at Pyes Hall from 0700hrs and no-one turned up until 0915approx. I took the images at 0846 and I re-iterate that there was no-one else present at the time. I didn't even mention it to my Colleague Barry Clarkson who was just across the river looking for the Red-breasted Flycatcher until early afternoon. I knew in my mind it was a Rustic Bunting but I wanted to check on a couple of points before telling anyone. You will have noted that although there were several birders there today no-one even mentioned a sniff about a Rustic Bunting and I feel sure they were looking for something other than Firecrests. Just accept it Anthony that it was just another bird that got away. Rest assured that if you had been there I would have pointed the bird out and we could have discussed it on the spot.
Mike

No I'm sorry Mike, I cannot accept outright suppression. Word it as nicely as you want I'll word it properly. Suppression!

I was the one who arrived at 09:15. If you knew in your mind then tell people on site you don't have to put news out until it's re-found or confirmed from your pictures. Which it would have been! Why you didn't do this is anyone's guess. You probably didn't want anyone else to get a decent picture of the bird (there where a few big cameras on show today.) There would have been extensive searching if you'd have told people on site.

Nobody mentioned a Rustic Bunting all day because you supressed it!

I hope your happy with your find. I personally like to share my sightings something I did all day today and yesterday. Helping birders get onto the elusive Red-breasted flycatcher in particular.

_________________
http://anthonybentleywildlifephotography.blogspot.com/

UK life list 310 (Harlequin Duck)
Lincolnshire List 246 (Puffin)
Village (Brigsley) list 99 (Shelduck)

Thanks Anthony

Sorry Mike but I really don't understanding why you're surprised that Anthony is so annoyed at missing the Rustic Bunting.
Or why Antony or anyone with you at Pyes Hall this morning have to accept anything!

You took enough pictures of the bird and from reading your account of events. "I Knew in my own mind it was a Rustic Bunting". So why suppress the sighting?

I thin its you that should accept. You not Anthony let a Rustic Bunting get away today and for no good reason...

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

I don't know if suppression here is the right word but anyone finding a potentially rare in Lincs is entitled to take a breath to assess provenance. However, it is reasonable to expect the finder puts out the news in a timely fashion as a "possible" at least to get more pairs of eyes on site. No-one should expect to be castigated if the bird is not relocated or ID'd as something less rare.
Phil

As noted I am still somewhat bemused by the present story. After an hour or more of amicable chat I find it bizarre that the presence of such a notable bird only 45 minutes previously, and probably still in the local area, was not even mentioned. I did trawl the outer dune system as always looking for ground dwelling birds but when there appear to be so few migrants around and nothing new arriving the impetus for cold searching declines. I failed to check some of the ideal bunting habitat quite close to Pyes’ Hall probably to all of our regret. Twenty years ago I would have walked all of the habitat and ignored trying to photograph some skulking Firecrests but sometimes us oldies need a bit of inspiration to walk that extra mile. As noted I walked some of the habitat but one pair of boots only stands a small chance of unearthing a singe passerine whereas twenty boots and eyes would have stood a much better chance.

And let us be honest this was not a glimpse of a skulking hard to identify acrocephalus warbler these are very good and clear images of a pretty easily identifiable species.

We all bemoan the lack of new blood coming into the active birding scene and it is a sad that one of our up and coming young birders was not at least treated to the chance of looking for this super species when he had already located the very birds that people were there photographing. If people are not there then it is a different story but when you are on site it is understandably just a bit upsetting.

To put this record in context there are only five previous Lincolnshire records of this species the most recent 19 years ago!

Chapel St Leonards Sept 22nd 1906
Gib Point male May 11th 1975
Gib Point Oct 1st 1978
Saltfleetby March 22nd 1992 [photod]
North Cotes male May 23-24th 1994

As noted in the most recent analysis of scarce migrant birds in Britain, during 2004 – 2007 in British Birds 106:475, in their European breeding range overall numbers are declining and have been doing so since the 1980’s. Unregulated trapping in winter in China is considered a probable reason for the declines. This may thus be the last chance that many people have of ever seeing this iconic and attractive species in the county – let us hope not

Graham's wise words put this unbelievable incident into context.

It may be more than just another "One that got away"...

Is it any wonder our young active birders like Anthony are drawn too 'Next Generation Birders'.
If/when my generation refuses to confide in them...... Unforgivable!

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

A great looking bird in any plumage - there has been another spring bird at Gib in the early 90's - a well atched male over two days.

Kev

Another suppressed bird Kev??.

_________________
http://www.brachytron.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.LincolnshireOdes.blogspot.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/routy

How often does it happen in Linc's Stephen?

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

On a regular basis I'm afraid.

_________________
http://www.brachytron.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.LincolnshireOdes.blogspot.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/routy

Don't know if your joking Stephen.
As I report everything and for obvious reasons.

I'm a twitcher so happily and regularly watch other birders finds, when/if I can't find my own stuff.
It's the right thing to do..... Simples!

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer