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Saturday 19 April 2014

Franklin's gull

Great to see that news got out too late for the majority to get to see it,although in the space of an hour the bird was found, identified, flew off, relocated, flew off again, relocated again, phone calls were made to the chosen few who then had to travel to get there and then its seen by Jimmy Nail's chums, suspicious?? maybe?  Anyway, its probably the same bird reported here a month ago at Ogmore.

21 comments:

Steve Hinton said...

Get a life Slap, it's more fun this way. Everybody's at it!!!

MauriceC said...

Just as well the Eggy Nun one was obliging.

Alex said...

You don't need Franklin's Gull for Glamorganshire do you ? Tut tut

tiger said...

Dont need it for Avon or Devon either

Steve Hinton said...

Two records for Ogmore.

Paul tabor said...

slaphead it makes me sad to see such comments made by yourself about news being late yet again, i would love to see all you east versus west birders getting on instead of the east constantly slagging the west off about late news, you made it quite clearly before that you would not share any news about rare sightings to certain individuals, so why do you have to make a point if that certain individual dont share the news with you, you know the score either build bridges or get on with you life it simple, dont slag people off about news if you dont intend sharing yourself simples.

Slaphead said...

Its not all about sharing the news with just me though Paul,is it? I don't think you realise how many people are pissed off with the recent (and deliberate) supression and late news broadcasting, with a number from down your way too,I would think you will be quite shocked when you find out mate.

Steve Hinton said...

Nobody's has suppressed any news here Paul.
West v East! Suppression = nobody wins! Just losers!
Shame all this shit is happening. Better when there was just one website where all would be able to see news! Talk about elitism!! There has, and will always be that barrier, it will never change!
That's birding!!

Paul tabor said...

Steve i don't know all the in's and out's of what's gone between yourselves and other's, all i know is it's not good, since the GRC was formed a lot of bad feeling has spread why again i dont know all i know is that childish comments aint going to get anyone anywhere, until bridges are made between individuals all i'm asking is cut the childish "they didnt tell us" blah blah, i want to come on this blog and read news or look at photo's not read childish comments.
Any way happy birding

Slaphead said...

"since the GRC was formed a lot of bad feeling has spread" .... now that is a strange coincidence.

Seymour said...

Christ, I dread to think what the atmosphere will be like when the next local mass-appeal rarity turns up?!
I've said before that, as a relatively small group of people who share the same passion, we should all try to "get along". Nothing positive will be achieved by all this.
If I found a local rarity, there are 12 people I'd ring or text. I wouldn't be suppressing the bird from the rest of Glamorgan or Gwent's birding community, I'd be relying on the grapevine to spread the news.

Paul tabor said...

Seymour nobody has suppressed anything though that's the point,i got the message about the franklin's gull and so did half of glamorgan, i take it slap and steve aint on the list, but so are a lot of other birders, its up to the ones that get the message to pass the news onto others that didn't. Slaphead as for your comment, i was referring to steve when he said it was better when it was only one website, from what i can gather the only bad feeling is coming from the cardiff end, anyway i don't want to get dragged into a slanging match, as i've got no issue's with anyone, i'm a happy birder that just enjoys getting out and about, we're all adults and should act like adults not children, if you don't like the fact that news isnt reaching you, then i suggest you contact the people in your area who's on the list to inform you of any news instead of moaning every time problem solved.

Seymour said...

Paul, if you read my last paragraph then I think we're both singing from the same hymn sheet.

Randal M Snowdrop said...

Well said both of you. I couldn't agree more.

Apart from that, Jimmy Nail's a Geordie, whereas the butch version of Alan Carr is a Mackem. Which reminds me.....

A Mackem and his sister decide they've brought enough Neanderthals into the world so they go their local doctor. He tells them about a procedure called vasectomy, and explains to the Mackem that he must place a banger in a tin can, hold it up to his ear ,and count to ten.

The mackem has a dim glimmer of doubt in the recess of his muddled brain, and decides to go to a proper doctor. On arriving in Newcastle he goes to the R.V.I. and sees a consultant.

The doctor starts telling him about vasectomy and then recognises him as a Mackem. He tells him to put a banger in a tin can, hold it up to his ear and count to ten.

Thinking this must be the way, the dimwit goes back to his hovel and steals the necessary things. He lights the banger, puts it in the can, and holds it up to his ear. He starts counting 1,2,3,4,5, puts the can between his legs and starts again on his other hand 6,7,8.......

tiger said...

Thought you d been quiet for a while Randal !

Jeff said...

Paul,I respect and understand a lot of what you say but I think you are seriously missing the point.
The point being that the gull was supposedly found at 7.30pm disappeared, was refound etc and the news went out at 7.59pm to most of us when being so late in the day very few if any had a chance of making it to see the bird.
Perhaps if the gull had been found earlier in the day and the word put out several including myself could have made the effort,there would then be no issue.
The fact that two of the "select clique" would have had to have travelled 35-40 minutes to get to the site unless they were birding close by makes everyone including myself think that certain individuals received the news before being made public and perhaps the bird was therefore found earlier than 7.30pm.
Must dash,putting in a bid on eBay for a helicopter so that I can travel to twitches as quickly as some others do.

Paul tabor said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jeff said...

You have a point Paul but if Mark is to be used as the "hub" to distribute information quickly then surely Mark must be the first person to be informed of a sighting that would appeal to many birders.
Mark volunteered to set up a text "grapevine" service a few years ago following the Bobolink twitch at Eggy Nun when some birders missed out due to not receiving news of the bird and an excellent idea it was and is still working well via texts and Twitter.
However in order for the system to work well to the satisfaction of everybody whoever is the "hub" be it Mark or anybody else who takes it on they must be the first to know in order to get the information out immediately without undue delay.
I agree that everyone's inclination would be to contact their mates first and that is pretty much unavoidable.
We are fortunate to have a "grapevine" service in place that for most of the time works very well.
Unfortunately the timing of the find of the Franklyn's being so late in the day has a massive bearing on the issue.
It also doesn't help the case that the gull wasn't refound the following morning so more birders could have seen it and hasn't been seen since.

Steve Hinton said...

Oops sorry about that . Tabors post was deleted accidentally. You may want to repost.

Steve Hinton said...

Be careful Jeff or you'll be out!!

Randal M Snowdrop said...

For those of you who missed Paul's post, here goes:

What do you do if a Mackem throws a grenade at you?

Pull out the pin and throw it back.