13 replies to this topic

[meghann]

My lifer American Redstart? I could see a bird flitting about, fired off some shots, and saw this hiding in one of the shots.

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[guy_incognito]

Yeah, you got him. Luckily they are distinctive enough that the ID can still be made.

[Liam]

I can't seem to make it into anything else.

Do you not count birds you didn't identify in the field?

[meghann]

I can't seem to make it into anything else.

Do you not count birds you didn't identify in the field?

Nope. I mean, I'll put him on ebird, but I won't put it on my life list.

Hopefully he'll come back and I'll be able to get a good look at him and be able to count him. He showed up once, so he'll show up again, right??? Lol.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Nothing else it could be

[creeker]

Nope. I mean, I'll put him on ebird, but I won't put it on my life list.

That doesn't make sense to me. You saw him but you didn't see him? Put it on your list already!

[meghann]

That doesn't make sense to me. You saw him but you didn't see him? Put it on your list already!

I could tell it was A bird, but that was about it. I didn't see those markings until I blew up the photo on my computer. For a lifer, I want to really see the bird and say "That's an American Redstart!" Otherwise I feel cheated out of the experience.

[creeker]

OK, I get that.

[cestma]

Hopefully he'll come back and I'll be able to get a good look at him and be able to count him. He showed up once, so he'll show up again, right??? Lol.

You don't wanna know how many of my property records have only been seen once. Over 28 years.

I could tell it was A bird, but that was about it. I didn't see those markings until I blew up the photo on my computer. For a lifer, I want to really see the bird and say "That's an American Redstart!" Otherwise I feel cheated out of the experience.

I can understand that except for the "ID" part, if that makes sense. I like to have a pretty good look at the bird, enough to feel that I actually saw it and got a good sense of what it looked and acted like, "mentally." But I don't mind if the tricky ID part (you know what taxa I mean!) has to wait till I can come in and pore over my books, consult here, whatever.

I'm 99% positive I saw my first Chestnut Sided Warbler last week, but it was just a fleeting glimpse, and that didn't seem to be really "seeing" it, to me... (Don't get me wrong--some fleeting glimpses are more sufficient than others!)

[Wren]

Meghann, I totally get that also. I just started this new hobby and have been able to take some photos of birds there is no way anyone could ID. (i.e. a dark black blob 200 yards away with bright sky behind and no binocs.) At home I could zoom into a photo and lighten the subject and see colors, markings, etc and could make an ID, but it really doesn't feel like I've seen the bird. I'll ID him again in the field!

[hbvol]

I could tell it was A bird, but that was about it. I didn't see those markings until I blew up the photo on my computer. For a lifer, I want to really see the bird and say "That's an American Redstart!" Otherwise I feel cheated out of the experience.

Geez! if it wasn't for blowing up photos, I'd have missed a third of the birds on my list. That's why I carry a camera!

[meghann]

I just don't like counting them unless I knew what they were. To each their own.

But, I went outside again just now. He came back.

"That's an American Redstart!"

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[JimBob]

Congrats!!!!!!

[cestma]

Wow, how cool is that?!