Hi all,

Just an opinion, but when a "mega-rarity" is reported I believe among the
critical details that should be posted to the hot line, etc., is WHO
reported it. A Great Knot in winter plumage is not going to be so easy to
identify as a juvenile in fall (the one previous confirmed west coast
record). Why not a Black-bellied Plover? Unless we can judge if the observer
knew the significance of the sighting and had some familiarity with the most
similar common species we can't judge whether to pop for it, driving
hundreds of miles, sneaking off work, flying in from California, etc.

Gene Hunn,Seattle, hunnhome at accessone.com

At 01:43 AM 1/16/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi Tweets,
>
>John Chandler writes:
>
>>This is the Vancouver Bird Alert for Thursday January 15 11:33 PM update.
>(snip)
>
>But no mention, just dead silence, about the Great Knot (Calidris
tenuirostris).
>This is a *mega*-rarity anywhere in North America and many birders are
>driving hundreds of miles to Vancouver BC Canada to see it based on your
>reports.
>Is it no longer there? Is it still being seen? What can you tell us?
>Is it still worth their while to come here?
>*What is the latest on this bird's status*, Vancouver RBA?
>
>Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
>Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
>mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
> Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
>
>
>