SEPTEMBER'S MYSTERY BIRD ANSWERS
AND
THE RESULTS FOR THE END OF THE 2007 COMPETITION
There was a total of 19 entrants for this, the final round of the 2007 Manchester Birding Mystery Bird Competition but would there be 'trouble at the top', could Dave Broome stumble at this the final hurdle and allow Rob and Sonia Adderley to grab the glory? Read on...
Mystery Bird 23
After a full year of 'mystery birding' there was no fooling entrants with this one as all 19 managed the correct answer and I was especially pleased as I also found and identified this bird in the field (literally ☺) from only this very pose and at a fair old good distance too such was the distinctiveness of it. Of course, all the white 'herons' that we might encounter in Britain, but one, hold their body quite vertical when resting and certainly never as horizontal as this birds, coupled with the dark looking and very slim lores (wider and paler in Little and Great White Egret), the very black legs (only Little has such black legs) and the little 'tuft' on the rear crown we were quite safe and correct in identifying it as a Spoonbill. The photo below leaves us in no doubt that we were correct, displaying it's most distinctive characteristic for all to see, so well done to you all Simon Johnson, Tony Coatsworth, Nick Patel, Michel Rogg (sending his regards from Switzerland once again), Mark Rigby, Mike Baron, John Frankland, Les Steele, Dean MacDonald, Helen Garwood, Henry Cook, Andy Isherwood, Rob and Sonia Adderley, Adam Davison, Nick Hilton, Nick Green, Jimmy Meadows, Craig Higson and Dave Broome. Unfortunately though, despite 5 entrants also mentioning the Canada Geese that were visible in the image, there were no extra points on offer for them but it was a nice try either way ☺
Spoonbill, Farlington Marshes, Hampshire, 21.08.07- Ian McKerchar
Mystery Bird 25
Mystery bird number 25 however, presented all sorts of problems and I hadn't quite anticipated just how many or indeed who would fall at this, the very last of the mystery birds and despite all 19 entrants managing to identify it as some sort of grebe, all 5 species on the British list were offered as answers, clearly this wasn't as easy as it looked...or was it? Slavonian Grebe (1 vote) would rarely ever appear so buffish on the face as that which we can see on the mystery bird, perhaps only in moult from winter to summer plumage, but should always show more clear white on the face and neck even from this angle, also the head should appear very flat crowned in that species which is not the case here. Black-necked Grebe too (4 votes) differs similarly as with Slavonian although in juvenile plumage would show some buffish on the face though not as slightly 'blotchy' as this appears on our bird, the head shape fits a little better but would we really expect the flanks to look so buffish and the rear end so contrastingly white in that species? I think not. Both Great Crested Grebe and Red-necked Grebe (1 vote each) would differ greatly in jizz from our mystery bird, appearing proportionately larger with longer, thicker necks even from an angle as we are presented with here and need no further discussion. This leaves us with Pied-billed and Little Grebes and perhaps the two most difficult to separate from this photograph but despite being similar plumage wise, Pied-billed would have a noticeably broader neck, appearing generally stockier all over and not as slim and delicate as our bird here. So, we finally arrive at our correct answer and the bird is indeed a Little Grebe and a juvenile at that, as correctly identified by 11 entrants Simon Johnson, Nick Patel, Mark Rigby, Mike Baron, Dean MacDonald, Helen Garwood, Henry Cook, Andy Isherwood, Rob and Sonia Adderley, Nick Hilton and Jimmy Meadows.
Little Grebe (juvenile), Pennington Flash, 15.07.07- Ian McKerchar
Those with both correct answers were Simon Johnson, Nick Patel, Mark Rigby, Mike Baron, Dean MacDonald, Helen Garwood, Henry Cook, Andy Isherwood, Rob and Sonia Adderley, Nick Hilton and Jimmy Meadows but once again I thank you all for having a go, regardless of the outcome! So how did this, if it did at all, affect the final standings in the competition, see below to find out.
THE 2007 MANCHESTER BIRDING MYSTERY BIRD COMPETITION RESULTS
Firstly and most importantly I would like to sincerely thank all those that took part in the competition throughout the year, 41 of you in all, your participation was greatly appreciated regardless of how many rounds you entered and I would hope that you will continue to support the competition and join in the fun for the next year as well. For those who didn't enter but perhaps still had a go in private or just read the results, now's your chance because the next round is a brand new start!
So, after last months round Dave Broome was still out in front, having not dropped a point all year and only Rob and Sonia Adderley were in a position to take the title should Dave seriously mess up but that would mean him having to fail to identify both species or perhaps to forget to enter at all! That was however, very unlikely to happen although Dave did indeed slip up on the very last mystery bird and so spoil his 100% record, though still achieving an outstanding 24 out of a possible 25 points and so becomes the winner of the very first Manchester Birding Mystery Bird Competition, very well done to him and as a prize he wins a copy of the superb new Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World (Schofield & Onley) field guide and a free copy of the 2006 Manchester Bird Report. Rob and Sonia Adderley came in second with 23 points, whilst third place went to Andy Isherwood with 22 points, both great efforts indeed.
Many thanks once again to you all, please note however that the 2008 competition will be delayed for a few weeks and so commence towards the end of 2007 (I'll let you all know!), so it'll give you time to brush up and get ready!
Ian McKerchar (October 2007)