Harlequin

[Marek]

To all of you who I've met today and who didn't share any information about Harlequin in this specific location here it is.
http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Harlequin
http://mareknaturephoto.com/Gallery/January/Harlequin_1
It took me two days but finnaly I've got my first Harlequin of 2007. Enjoy.

[Walter Sobchak]

Fantastic...I've been looking for this bird.  Hopefully one will visit closer to me.  How far out on the water was it?

[Lloyd]

Well, now I'm jealous. I went down to Humber Bay Park early Saturday morning and saw all three Mergansers, a pair of Ruddys, Northern Shovelers and many Buffleheads. But no Harlequin. I moved on to the mouth of the Humber and scanned through about 40 Goldeneyes and two Gadwals but, alas, no Harlequin. After slipping and landing flat on my keester, I gave up. Interesting to note are the beautiful, bright plumages of all the species. A harbinger of spring, no doubt. Great photos, by the way.

[Marek]

@Walter: This male was swimming about 10 - 20 metres off the shore.
@Lloyd: This time Harlequin is hanging around with Red - Brested Mergansers. Not far from the poin where Norm spotted it fiew days ago. Just further south, about 150m.

[David Shilman]

HBP east or west?  Thanks!

David

[Marek]

HBP East. You have to go to the end of it so you are able to see CN Tower. There are two benches. I saw this bird with group of Red-Brested Merganser around southern bench.

[surfinbird]

I'm sorry to hear that folks are not sharing info again

[David Shilman]

I'm sorry to hear that folks are not sharing info again

Isn't it possible that others were there and didn't see it...or don't have internet access...or don't know about this board...or simply don't have time?

David

[Anonymous]

I agree with David Shilman.

 I was there that day and though I checked both sides of the Park and also the lake I did not find either of the male Harlequins that I had reported earlier. I met a birder and a photographer as I was heading for Sunnyside and passed this non info on and wished them luck. I also did not feel that someone slighted me when we found 2 Lesser Scaup and a Red-necked Grebe that no one else mentioned. I did not feel that the info was kept from me but only that I guessed they missed these good birds.

 Not all birders/photographers feel comfortable with reporting birds either in person or on the internet nor do all have access or knowledge of the reporting forums as David said. I have been in areas that contained many good birds and also a good number of birders and been the only one to report on the bird sightings even when I didn't get home until well after midnight giving all plenty of time to report. A good example is the Leslie Street Spit. Many times I met, passed or noticed a dozen or so birders out there and no on else reported sightings to me or the forums. That was and is their choice.

 Also do not forget that not all feel comfortable reporting when new to birding. We have ALL been there.

 Perhaps the poster was just too sceptical of the persons he talked to. If in doubt, then check for yourself and be happy if you find the bird that everyone else missed and if so inclined then do report the bird on the internet but do not make others feel guilty for not reporting, try to understand instead.

[Andrew Don]

I agree with Norm and i have to be honest i don't post usually after the spit because i know Norm almost always posts anyways and i don't want to be repetitive.

[Kin Lau]

Many people just aren't comfortable with the Internet, and even simple email is beyond them.  Just take a look at how many people keep posting back to the Ontbirds list to have themselves removed from the list. This is inspite of the fact that the info on how to do this is on _every_ single Ontbirds posting, and we get an email reminder every month.

Realistically, if you can't post about within 24hrs, the info is of limited value. So getting some people to go home, boot up the computer, get on-line, remember what their password is etc, etc just to post a sighting, is quite a chore compared to those of us who have high-speed, and only take a few seconds to post something.

Getting all the information down and making useful to other birders is also not as easy as it seems. Big thanks to Norm for always giving such good directions.

[Marek]

I wouldn’t be so sarcastic if I wasn’t 100% sure. But it doesn’t matter any more at this point. I took my pictures, shared it with people on this board and the most important thing, bird is still swimming out there. Some people appreciate my effort, some don’t.  Let’s don’t forget that it should be all about going out and having fun. I think I understand that but perhaps I’m mistaken. I appreciate Norms reports even thou that number of Gulls at specific location (100+) is not that important. Not to me at least.
Norm said “…not all birders feel comfortable with reporting birds….” In that case let me ask you a rhetorical question. Where do you draw a border between having fun and taking this hobby to serious?
I hope that you, or anybody else, will not get offended by my comments. I don’t have bad intension. I’m just very frustrated by- he does, or he doesn’t thing. Therefore I think that further conversation wont get me any more friends. Let’s just forget about it and have fun.
                                                Mark.
P.S. Please forgive me my bad grammar and spelling mistakes but English is not my first language.

[Ron Luft]

At least thats my approach. I am happy to share and have info shared with me, either via posting boards, e-mails or in the field in person. Birding is always a learning experience. And while a novice can be intimidated by those more knowledgeable their eyes are always welcome. Like in any 'community' there will be those that play things close to the chest and say nothing. They have their reasons and are entitled to their methods. Far and away I have found the 'community' as a whole vey welcoming and forthcoming with help and sharing of information. Politics and personal agendas can become an issue that is most unfortunate as the love of birds and their flourishing is what brings us to the sport/hobby/pastime in the first place. Occasional a very rare find may not get posted so as to avoid a mass of humanity encroaching and invading the habitat of that bird and is done to protect that rare find. If there were a posting of a Barn Owl it would cause many to visit and if I were one and then found that the nest or roost had been abandoned it would bother me. Better the community not know for the good of that bird.