Shouldn't answer this another insult but I will for benefit of others to see who is judging me. ........1) Why go through all this hassle on Texbirds without at least giving a BS explanation of why the location was not disclosed? I'm sure a simple "it's on private property" or "I don't want people harassing the bird" would've calmed most people. ....... Wrote with unnecessary vulgar word but we all have different backgrounds. You wrote me a private RE: email right after my last post (as stated before no private emails of this kind will be answered) so you are aware of my reasons. Valid or not to you (that is how I translate your urban vocabulary) - not my problem. I already noted that I expect this - some people would find my reasons not important. .......2) Why are all photos of the bird only in flight and with royal terns? Just seems logical that a perched photo would've been obtained, perhaps with a sandwich tern present as well. Unless there was something to hide. ...... What seems to be logical to you evidently and simply is not. That much for your logic. I found this bird in my camera viewfinder when taking off with flock of ROYT. Sure I knew that I probably have ELTE even that I only saw one before in Sonora, Mexico, and far away but have many books published on terns so I was familiar with this species even if only from drawing and photos. I guess in birderâs vocabulary it was a âbombâ. Knowing what it most likely is I kept taking photos of just this bird - 56 in total during 29 seconds before it was gone. Could I follow it. Yes. Did I? No. Why? I was in the car already on my way trying to go to other spots looking for more LETEs. Did I succeeded with more LETEs on that day. No. I had 1.5 hour left of the daylight and hit only empty spots. Did I regretted for no staying and trying to follow ELTE? Yes. But if I did not try to find more LETEs I would feel guilty. Sorry these guys are more important to me just before they left for winter grounds than one out of place ELTE and I already had good photo documentation of later, never enough of former. So what you want me to do - paste SATE in PS? Why not eagle - photo would look better. Was something to hide? Yes. I try in the field to hide from people like you. ........3) Why ask for an "ID" help in the first email when, for someone that studies terns ask much as Mark had to know it was an elegant tern? Only reason I can think of is for an ego-boost. ....... Weak thinking again and I did not ask for help to ID, only to confirm the ID. Ego stuff again? Most people is usually judging others by their own weaknesses. Worry about your own ego not others. I have no need to boost mine. ........4) Every birder that I know has a select few people that they would call, especially for an ID on a rare bird. I find it odd that apparently nobody was called or they are keeping their mouth's shut also. I know when I find a suspect for a rare bird I make at least a couple calls to people that know more than I do about the bird in question. ...... Again you are speaking for yourself and expecting others to do what you will do; and this unpleasant language again. .......Just so everyone on Texbirds knows, when I find "my" elegant tern in Port Aransas and after I get my pics and call my buddies, EVERYONE on Texbirds will get specific directions to it. ........ Not long time ago you were swearing to never post on Texbirds again - all over the internet (and practically cursing some members - now ELTE for EVERYONE from you; what a huge metamorphosis). Did not take long to brake this promises, right? Why anything else you say or do should be trustworthy? Man should stand behind his words - very old proverb. I do understand that you need clients to take them and show them the birds. You also post records of bunch of birds in just county location, without any details. How I know that - because I check eBird for arrival and departure days. I do not care for locations, county is more than enough. I go to my own spots to look for them. .......I tried to stay out of this discussion as long as I possibly could but many people that are MUCH better birders than Mark and I had very valid points........... Lie or true? Are you sure you did not comment on that somewhere else? And how many times I have to repeat that I am not a birder; stated clearly on my site as well. So ANY birder is better than me. I have no problem with tha t. You do not plan to kick my tripod, do you? Do not, it is impossible, I do not use one. Mark B Bartosik Houston, Texas http://www.pbase.com/mbb/from_the_field In a message dated 9/21/2013 2:44:57 A.M. Central Daylight Time, mcintyrebirds@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: I tried to stay out of this discussion as long as I possibly could but many people that are MUCH better birders than Mark and I had very valid points. My questions are as followed. 1) Why go through all this hassle on Texbirds without at least giving a BS explanation of why the location was not disclosed? I'm sure a simple "it's on private property" or "I don't want people harassing the bird" would've calmed most people. 2) Why are all photos of the bird only in flight and with royal terns? Just seems logical that a perched photo would've been obtained, perhaps with a sandwich tern present as well. Unless there was something to hide. 3) Why ask for an "ID" help in the first email when, for someone that studies terns ask much as Mark had to know it was an elegant tern? Only reason I can think of is for an ego-boost. 4) Every birder that I know has a select few people that they would call, especially for an ID on a rare bird. I find it odd that apparently nobody was called or they are keeping their mouth's shut also. I know when I find a suspect for a rare bird I make at least a couple calls to people that know more than I do about the bird in question. Hopefully we have all learned a lesson from this bird, no matter where it was photographed. I know that it has shown me the importance of sharing rare sightings with others in order to document it thoroughly. The way I look at it, I still would get my "ego-boost" if I was the original finder of a mega-rarity. I hope that all members of the TBRC take a close look at this bird and it's surroundings and also take into consideration the observers behavior before accepting this vague and what would be an important Texas record. Just so everyone on Texbirds knows, when I find "my" elegant tern in Port Aransas and after I get my pics and call my buddies, EVERYONE on Texbirds will get specific directions to it. Jon McIntyre Ingelside Sent from my iPhoneEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner