Reporting that a bird "has gone"

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 1:37 pm

I agree with Colin Smale (LBC Bird Sightings 30 April...'Red Rump gone') that saying about a particular bird, "it's gone", can be a very tricky report to make with certainty,........ especially when the bird reappears later in the day to one's own embarrassment and to the chagrin of those birders who cancelled their trip/twitch.

I also posted yesterday at much the same time as Colin - 1.16 and 1.15pm respectively - re the disappeared Red-rumped Swallow. At least it had disappeared from the immediate Far Ings area (with people looking for the bird from about dawn to nearly midday without success), but at the back of my mind I couldn't help wondering if it had just moved to somewhere not too far away,eg. to the other (Lincs) side of the Humber Bridge.

The problem for a birder going for a bird, can be compounded by the fact that one may want to get to see a bird before it, perhaps, clears off unexpectedly.....the "Oh! you should have been here 5 minutes ago" syndrome. In that case, especially if a long car journey is involved, one HAS to leave home early, before the first Yes/No reports are put out.

With a reservoir, there's no real problem, eg. re the Bufflehead at Covenham this past weekend : either the bird is on the reservoir or it isn't...."it's gone". With a distinctive large bird, such as the Red-legged Stint at present at Frampton Marsh RSPB, sooner or later "it's gone" will be fairly definite. However, even some large birds can "go" and reappear a few days later, eg. the White Stork and the Great-white Egret at Kirkby-on-Bain earlier in the year (ie. moving around a large area, much of it not covered by birders).

Certain birds are notorious for appearing and disappearing during their stay in an area. One which immediately springs to mind is the Great Grey Shrike. They often roam over such a large area that they can lead birders a very merry dance : hence the advice, " If you've got something better to do that you like, never twitch a Great Grey Shrike ".

Some birds have recently been reported as "gone" but in fact were just lying low for a few hours, eg. the Ring Ouzel at Woodhall Spa.

Indeed, reporting a bird has "gone" can be a very tricky matter and specific knowledge of a particular species' habits can sometimes be most important in coming to a (hopefully) correct decision....
....and sometimes basic common sense can be the answer.
Freddy

Andy Sims · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 6:59 pm

Freddy, have you been keeping this Red-legged Stint quiet? Suppression at it's worst!

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2012 9:58 pm

Andy,

.......and there was I, thinking of claiming it later as a British first.

Freddy
PS.....Black-winged Stilt.....I made a right Red-footed Booby of that bird's name but, apart from the careless typo of 'StiNt' for 'StiLt',........ when my wife and I lived in Spain(1999-2002), she always referred to the Black-winged Stilt as the Red-legged Stilt. I now seem to have picked up the habit. :roll:

Freddy
(red-facedfreddy@confused.com)
PPS.
My wife, reading the above over my shoulder, has just pointed out that I've made no mention of forgetting to take my tablets yesterday morning (despiite her reminding me twice). Oh! Dear ! I've been caught out (again). :oops:

Freddy
(freddy@doghouse.com)

Anthony Bentley · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 1:36 am

Freddy you raise a very valid point, it is a very awqward situation. Reporting a bird as gone and then the bird being reported later you might feel a little silly. But reporting a bird not being present could save others the journey, like Colin said 60 miles round trip is a fair way.

Twitching does come with the danger of dipping and everyone will dip on many birds in there time, I have and I will continue to dip. But if somebody were to report the bird as gone instead of not reporting anything is very helpfull and appreciated. It's a bold statement to say that a bird is gone coming with the danger of the bird turning up later in the day. I would go about it by stating that I didn't see the bird while visiting that particular site. Then if someone decides not to twitch the bird and its reported later then thats there choice.

I'm very gratefull of Colin's post, although I still went to Far Ings I wasnt expecting the RRS and I wasn't dispointed when it wasnt there.

Freddy Johnson · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2012 9:10 am

Anthony,
Thanks for your interesting points re this "it's gone" discussion.

Perhaps a 'safe' middle way of reporting, and one we often see on the web, is the "no sign of XXX as yet/by midday/etc". It gives information, is not categorical and prevents any aggro if the bird is actually still around.... or gone.

Freddy

Katherine Birkett · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 12:48 pm

Freddy Johnson wrote:

However, even some large birds can "go" and reappear a few days later, eg. the White Stork and the Great-white Egret at Kirkby-on-Bain earlier in the year (ie. moving around a large area, much of it not covered by birders).

** Weeps **

I've been on four twitches for this bird, all ending in Epic Fail!!!!

:cry:

Anthony Bentley · **Posted:** Thu May 03, 2012 1:45 pm

Katherine, I have dipped on Thayers gull, Bufflehead and Red rumped swallow in the past month. And only gained Black winged Stilt, not a great succes ratio but sometimes it gets better, Keep trying and you will succed

The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Reporting that a bird "has gone"

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