[cobirds] Re: birding pifalls

Thank you Glenn. 

First, for finding and scrutinizing this bird and notifying people of your first impressions of the bird (yes, nearly all your first impressions are correct :-) ).  It is better to get people onto a bird and find out it might not be the bird you thought, than the opposite...telling no one and then showing photos of a rarity that no one can chase because it left!    So, for letting us all know what you suspected WAS the right thing to do. 

Second, thank you for posting your uncertainty and suspicions.  It allows all of us to reflect, "Did I, personally, see enough detail on the bird to make a positive identification?"  Many times when out birding we "blindly" accept a companion's sightings.  When we bird with a friend or an organized group we should, like Glenn, want a clean list for ourselves.  Sometimes we get caught up in the "chase" and allow "peer pressure" to influence the bird identifications we make (or attempt to make at great distances).

Again, a big "THANK YOU" to Glenn for explaining his decision process and conclusions.  We all need to re-evaluate what we saw...and see in the future.  Great birders like Glenn DO make mistakes occasionally, but that is how great birders became great...they make mistakes and learn.  I guess I need to make more mistakes!

Thanks Glenn.

Joey.

Joey Kellner

Littleton, Colorado

On Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 7:51:20 PM UTC-6, Glenn and Laurie wrote:

So today I reminded myself I am not the best birder in the world.  Something everyone needs to pay attention to.  First impressions are often correct but not always.  Tony Leukering taught me shape and structure are huge in bird ID.  Plumage changes but structure rarely does.  I was fairly convinced the Marston duck was a tufted duck.  I saw and photo'd the bird fairly close up.  In defense of everyone else who reported this bird, it was never close to shore after my initial sighting.  From a distance, it appeared to be a TUDU but was not easy to confirm.  After looking at my photos, I became suspicious.  Shape and structure did not look right.  I'd rather be wrong and have a clean list than fudge a rarity. 

 

I'm ok with mis-IDing this one, because I won't next time.

 

Glenn Walbek

Castle Rock, CO

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

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