Descriiptions

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Mon Oct 03, 2011 9:36 pm

I know they're not everyone's cup of tea but writing a description for a rarity is important if the record is to be accepted and entered into the county and national archives. I am prompted to write this by the appearance of a photo of a Pacific Golden Plover posted by Graham Catley at Horseshoe Point in 2002. I was phoned up a month or two ago by Michael Tarrant who referred to an article in Birding World which mentioned the first appearance of two Pacifics together in Ireland. He queried this because he believed there had been two in Lincs together in 2002. Were there two? Graham's distant photo is the only record of one of these birds which were first claimed the day before. I followed up Mike's query and found that no description of these two birds was submitted either to the county recorder or BBRC. Therefore, the records will show that the first appearance of two together was years later in ireland. As things stand there were NO Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincolnshire in 2002. I think that's a great shme.

John

Roy Harvey · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm **Posts:** 956

John,
If I remember correctly it was Ian Shepherd who found the Horseshoe Point bird(s)

Roy

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:16 am

Roy

I believe that there were two or three involved in the original finding/identification but all that is irrelevant when history will show that there were NO Pacific Golden Plovers in Lincs in 2002.

John

Roy Harvey · **Joined:** Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm **Posts:** 956

John,

Is it now too late to put the records straight?

Graham has some not very good pictures of one bird, I have a bit of not very good video of one, possibly with the second bird in the background. Mike Tarrant might have some photo's?

The record could be assessed by the current LBC Rarities Committee.

Of course, I am not disagreeing with your plea for descriptions on a regular basis - asap after the sighting.

Roy

John Clarkson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:53 pm

Not too late Roy but sad that the original finders, whoever they are, would not be credited with this remarkable record.

John

Chris Atkin · **Posted:** Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:29 am

I can confirm that 2 Pacific Golden Plovers were found together on the the evening of 17th July 2002 during an LBC Grimsby branch Wednesday evening trip out to Horseshoe Point. If I remember correctly several observers witnessed the two birds that evening, I myself being one, though I didn't make any written notes of the birds & I have now slept a bit since then!
The actual initial finders of the birds I presume do not wish to go through the process of providing a description, which of course is something they don't have to do. I'm not sure if both or just one bird was seen the following day - maybe someone else can shed light on this? Certainly more birders turned up that following day and photographs taken.

I hope this helps a little

regards

Chris

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Descriiptions

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