[obol] Re: Wagtails/Western Scrub Jays in Newport
- From: Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx>, OBOL Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:08:47 -0700
Range - thank you for passing the report to all of us.
I am leaving this subject alone beyond this post unless my comments are
restated inaccurately.
The reasons I suggested Gray Jays (and I do not know what he saw) is that the
circumstances reported include: " A Steller's Jay was nearby and interacting
with them, and they seemed to be slightly smaller than the jay but he did not
study this." This suggests Gray Jay because:
1. size
2. interaction with another jay species
3. even though White Wagtails can land on trees, isn't typical in regard to the
large number I have seen before
Additionally, some of the basics of the plumage described are somewhat
consistent with Gray Jay.
Rather inexperienced or casual birders sometimes find a bird in a book that has
a few characteristics similar to those of a bird that he/she sees, and then
fills in the "blanks" with the field marks seen in the book, falsely
remembering what had actually been seen.
We can't know what was seen from what we have read, but I remain very skeptical.
Jeff Gilligan
On Nov 27, 2013, at 12:32 PM, Range Bayer <range.bayer@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am with Mike, I am an agnostic about what these birds were, but the
> observer reported what he saw and I relayed on that description.
> Neither the observer nor I reported them as definite Black-backed
> Wagtails, they were reported as possible Black-backed Wagtails, with
> hope that birders in the South Beach area (which includes the Yaquina
> Bay South Jetty) would be on the lookout.
>
> But they were not Gray Jays--how many Gray Jays with black bibs have you seen?
>
> And they were not Western Scrub-Jays with which the observer is familiar.
>
> I have started deleting emails sent to me privately because they have
> become overwhelming in number, and some of them are, in my opinion,
> quite unbecoming of the sender. And some are by birders who feel
> entitled to go on private property without any regard to the people
> living there.
>
> This experience may illustrate one reason why birders choose to not
> post possible rarities to OBOL. Some of the responses on OBOL or to
> me have been very speculative and, in my opinion, insulting to the
> observer.
>
> Yes, there is plenty of room to not accept these as Black-backed
> Wagtails. It is fine to dispute identifications, but please don't
> impugn observers.
>
> A positive from this experience is Mike's suggestion below about
> taking a photo with a cell phone or other camera of an unknown bird.
> Some cell phones also have video and sound capabilities and that can
> be helpful with getting an image or the calls/songs of an unknown bird
> when other camera or video equipment is not available. Photos do not
> have to be National Geographic quality to be useful in identifying
> birds. I have even seen photos by a cell phone held to the eyepiece
> of a spotting scope (digiscoping) that were good enough to identify
> birds. When I talked to the observer yesterday, he didn't have a
> camera and in the excitement of the sighting he had forgotten the
> photo capability of his cell phone.
>
> And Mike's suggestion of practicing taking photos (I would add taking
> video) with a cell phone is great, too. Otherwise the bird(s) may
> disappear while one excitedly fumbles around trying to figure out how
> to use the cell phone to take photos or video.
>
> Happy Thanksgiving!
>
> Range Bayer, Newport, Oregon
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 10:07 AM, deborah.holland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> <deborah.holland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> Western Scrub Jays are definitely in Newport, although the sightings are
>> sporadic. Most of birds have been seen in the area east of Hwy 101, around
>> the High School or near City Hall. Fledglings were spotted this summer.----
>> --
>> They are an unfamiliar bird for many local (nonbirding) residents. Three
>> showed up at a Farmers Market and caused a small "what is that bird" stir.--
>> --
>> Newport was overcast yesterday...light was low.
>>
>> Deb in Newport.
>>
>>
>>
>> ---- Mike Patterson <celata@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> I think I will declare myself an agnostic on what these birds were.
>>> The data available is too thin and I hope somebody makes an effort
>>> to investigate (within the limits of respect for property rights).
>>>
>>> First, I lived with AFRICAN PIED WAGTAILS. I have been remiss in
>>> keeping up with pendulum swings of wagtail taxonomy, but I believe
>>> they are still considered a separate species, but allied with the
>>> white-wagtail complex. And they sit wherever they want and they're
>>> noisy. It is not unusual for them to feed together in a manner similar
>>> to pipits in AFRICA.
>>>
>>> Here's my grumble. If you have a cell phone, you have a camera.
>>> Let's make Thanksgiving weekend birds phones (and videos) on cell phone
>>> weekend. While you're out walking off that extra piece of pumpkin
>>> pie (or trying to escape that annoying family member that has all those
>>> wrong opinions), take out the cell phone and practice getting the
>>> best bird photo you can. We'll have a contest.
>>>
>>> Even a marginal photo from a cell phone would help solve the current
>>> conundrum.
>>>
>>> What is the status of Western Scrub Jay in the Newport/South Beach Area,
>>> anyway?
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Mike Patterson
>>> Astoria, OR
>>> On watch in the Seawatch
>>> http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=1506
>
>
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