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Post by Dave on Dec 22, 2013 8:22:38 GMT -8
My brother Tom sent me these pictures of an Eurasian Hobby that he has taken in China. Some striking differences in shape, except the first show which is a similar angle.   |
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Post by oldfulica on Dec 22, 2013 9:06:53 GMT -8
I wonder if Hobbys are used by falconers and if this may be an escapee like the falcon Murray discovered in Agazzsi a few years ago.
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Post by birder1942 on Dec 22, 2013 12:47:39 GMT -8
Fascinating discussion on this falcon. One wonders what would have happened if the last photo of the bird had been shown first and then it was followed up with the first ones? Good birding everyone. John Vooys, Abbotsford.
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Post by Chris on Dec 23, 2013 20:53:33 GMT -8
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Post by Gord on Dec 23, 2013 22:55:28 GMT -8
Good shots there, Murray. Nice bird we dont often see out this way. Good work, incidentally, in being among the first to suggest what the bird ended up being!!
John, speaking for the site and the records we keep, if we only had the three photos I think I would have brought forward to consider the sightings hypothetical given the single angle of the shots. For a species that has yet to be recorded in BC and is, for that matter, terribly rare in North America itself, a first record needs to have lots of good supporting details. In the excitement of the moment, as we had here with thoughts of relocating a bird like this that shows such strong promise, the finer details of record keeping sort of falls to the side a little until all the information is gathered and a final and more objective 'decision' is made when the dust settles. Admittedly possibly undue 'leaning' towards a Hobby may have accompanied the record given the input of some experienced individuals, including Dave and Tom, when they saw the first series of photos.
Certainly a good learning experience.
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Post by birder1942 on Dec 24, 2013 8:22:05 GMT -8
Hi Gord and all. I agree this has been a great exercise. It always helps to get further information and if possible another look at the bird in question. Any birder has a wish to find something really rare hence the benefit of a group like this to discuss and challenge without antagonism. That is one of the reasons I really enjoy this site. Good birding everyone and Merry Christmas. John Vooys, Abbotsford.
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Post by hank9 on Dec 26, 2013 22:18:07 GMT -8
gord there are 2 recorded sightings in BC 1 in Merritt in 1982 and 1 in sooke 2002 but since there are no photographs it is listed as anecdotal.
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Post by Chris on Dec 27, 2013 8:52:29 GMT -8
Hank, I have access to Birds of BC, which is an excellent book written in the 90's. The 1982 sighting is a hypothetical sighting so that wouldn't count as a recorded sighting as stated in Birds of BC. If there are no pictures of the one in Sooke it also would be a hypothetical sighting. Both would be the first sightings in BC and there would have to be physical documentation for the sighting to be accepted, photos, video etc. In both scenarios the observers could have easily saw a bird that Gary did and passed it off as a Hobby. Some of us did that here with the first set of pictures. Unless clear pictures are presented neither one would be accepted as a record sighting. As a result, as it stands now, there are no confirmed sightings of a Hobby in BC.
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Post by hank9 on Dec 27, 2013 15:26:46 GMT -8
there was one photographed in seattle 10 years ago and I know with out photo evidence it is not accepted but all I said was reported in bc .
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