--- Susan Heath <sheath@xxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Mike and all, > > Here's a sticky situation relevant to Mike's comments above. Last > weekend I birded with Ian Topolsky, Jon Little, and BJ Westervelt at > the > Blue Ridge Center in western Loudoun County. As we were walking > towards > the woods, 5 herons flew over. Ian said something to the effect of > "Oh > look five Great Blue Herons" and I gave them a cursory glance with my > > bins and didn't think twice about it. Jon looked them over well > though > and said "Those are night-herons". I just got another glimpse before > > they disappeared over the mountains. Once Jon said it, I knew he was > > right. They were Black-crowned Night-herons. The bodies were white, > > the wings were single tone gray (not two toned like you see on GBHE), > > the legs didn't stick out nearly enough for GBHE, and they were too > small to be GBHE. Their flight style was different from GBHE. > Everything clicked for BCNH and I knew it just as soon as Jon said > it. > But I fumbled the id and then wasn't able to confirm it myself > because > the birds were gone. Ian and I even looked in a field guide once we > got > back to the cars to confirm it. So, can we put them on our Loudoun > County lists or not? > > Sue > The issue was a sticky one then, and despite any added insight, remains so in my eyes. Yes, in all likelihood these birds were BCNH, almost WITHOUT a doubt- but this is where listing becomes a truly subjective and personal pastime. It pretty much leaves it up to the individual to make that crucial decision regarding the addition of a species to whatever list (or lists) in question. Personally, I will not add BCNH to my Loudoun Co list. I looked up expecting the norm and passed it off as just that without a second glance. When a more appropriate ID was thrown out, the birds were too far away for me to appropriately reconsider the ID in the present tense, despite what little I retained from the moment of attention I gave them. Plus, if I am still debating the issue DAYS later, it ain't gettin' added. Period. The old adage "hindsight is 20/20", at least for me, doesn't really ring true. It's just a lesson to be learned and one I will probably have to learn many more times over before it truly sticks; look at every bird as if it's the first time you've laid eyes on it. Maybe next time I'll earn those BCNH in Loudoun... Ian C. Topolsky Hamilton, VA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos: High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/print_splash va_co_birding is hosted by FreeLists. To change your settings or unsubscribe, visit www.freelists.org To post to the list (subscribers only), send email to va_co_birding@xxxxxxxxxxxxx