IMHO, No apology needed. You provide us with so many great sightings to run after and enjoy, we as a group of UV birders are or should be psyched to have you birding, posting and upping all of our birding skills. You don't miss many and the birds can trick us all. Certainly they trick me on a regular basis and I don't think you should think twice about it. I for one, feel the you certainly enhance my upper valley birding experiences. SO don't be shy even if you might miss one every 10-20 years ;o) That goes for everyone. There are folks to help correct, educate or re-ID a bird. Never take it personally or let it keep you from posting you sightings.... Its what makes this a blast. On another note, just got back from Georgia.... highlight for me was the Red Cockaded Woodpecker... (Endangered species) Had to give it 2 shots at finding one...Sundays apart, but on the way to the airport yesterday, my darling wifes' eagle eyes spotted 2. Photos available. Chris, tell us more about this Varied Thrush..... :o) Dave Merker Etna, New Hampshire Cape May Raptor Banding Project Inc. www.capemayraptors.org On Apr 6, 2015, at 5:30 PM, Chris Rimmer wrote: > Apologies to everyone for a hasty and incorrect identification on the Red-necked Grebe I reported this morning from Campbell Flats. George Clark and Ed Hack relocated the bird, confirming that I jumped the gun. It was another Horned Grebe. They may graciously try to protect my ornithological honor by not pointing out my flagrant mis-ID on the listserv, but I hope they will report it here so that everyone can learn. I offer no valid excuses, other than that I was stumped by the transitional plumage, had a less-than-ideal view through branches, and have never claimed to be infallible as a field birder! > > We all need a dose of humble pie every so often, and I'm grateful to George and Ed for being such careful observers. In retrospect, I should have waited until I could be 100% certain of the identity. Part of the reason I posted it when I did was so that others could find the bird and verify its identity. > > Did I mention the Varied Thrush 375 yards away among the robin hordes, hopping in and out of view behind tufts of grass, right after I saw the grebe?? > > Chris > -- > Chris Rimmer > Vermont Center for Ecostudies > P.O. Box 420 > Norwich, VT 05055 > 802-649-1431 ext. 1 > www.vtecostudies.org > **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html **************************************************************** **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************