All, the report was of possible interest to many birders. My post was factual, & I did not directly question this particular report. Nothing I wrote 'questions' what was posted to another list - it is what it is. It is excluding any western-breeding (only) species the rarest "regularly" seen (more than a few documented in NY) warbler in our region. The report (below) reads "absolutely certain" - so that's it.
David & Phil, your dubious distinction awards are taken with all seriousness, & it's true, the comment and any further discussion better done privately with the poster-reporter. Now that I have his email I've done that, with apologies to him. Nonetheless, I stand by the specific comments I made, all valid - just not in a forum that may have been best. I did get many responses, all of which will be completely private (except two), in keeping with how I received them - thanks. And I'll gladly end with that but welcome any further responses, off- list please. Anyhow for any edification it may provide is the full report as posted to that list: _________________________________________________________________ Swainson's Warbler heard near Boathouse parking lot 6:30 AM Message List Reply Message #7678 of 7682 < Prev | Next > I heard an unusual song as I headed into the Ramble through the woods just north of the Boathouse parking lot entrance (the area where the bicycles are rented, there's a dumpster there also). I was just getting a purchase on the bird as I moved south through the understory towards the fencing near the dumpster when a park employee fired up a lawn mower nearby. Oh well. The bird stopped singing and vanished. Now that I've played the song at work, I am absolutely certain it was a Swainson's Warbler. --Matthew Here again is my full response, admittedly not in the best form (on another list which I do not subscribe to - and/thus, did not have the reporter's full email address with which to send an email to directly) - From: Tom Fiore <tom...@earthlink.net> Subject: "report" of heard-only warbler, 5/5 Date: May 5, 2010 1:00:47 PM EDT To: nysbirds-L@cornell.edu Re: the following report I'd offer at least cautionary notes: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ebirdsnyc/message/7678 1. This is a species whose song can be confused with a waterthrush song. 2. There are a lot of people with broadcast-capable portable/personal electronic devices, and instances of such devices used for playing bird song where at least a few people were "fooled" (intentionally or not) into believing they were hearing (whatever) actual bird singing, in the park where the bird reported was said to have been heard. Nowhere more prevalent than in the area of the park where reported... I myself have seen & heard this take place (including those birders who believed they heard song X, Y, Z...) 3. The bird reported is exceedingly unexpected even if not quite casual in occurrence. 4. Report of such rarity deserves a full name & place of residence included in the post. sharp ears - discern well & any news report soon. Tom Fiore, Manhattan <> On May 5, 2010, at 8:10 PM, david speiser wrote: I find it dubious to question anyone's sighting on any listserve and believe me I could almost daily!!! Those sort of comments are done best offline!! David Speiser NY, NY www.lilibirds.com XXXXX > Date: Wed, 5 May 2010 19:19:18 -0400 > Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] "report" of heard-only warbler, 5/5 > From: phil.jeff...@gmail.com > To: nysbirds-L@cornell.edu > > Note: Tom doesn't run that list and as far as I know isn't even a subscriber to ebirdsnyc. How Tom thinks anyone should sign their post to that list is irrelevant. Since I do run that list I encourage people to sign first names but I have no current intention of making it mandatory. In fact Matthew did sign his post. Subscribers to the list can see his email and question him directly if they felt the urge. > > But let's return the favor of making that post in the first place: > > I find it dubious to start questioning sightings reported on other lists, especially in light of the author of the commentary. Other NYC birders might understand if I make allusions to throwing stones in glass houses. > > Phil Jeffrey > Princeton/Ewing -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --