Also seen at C Park yesterday

["Philip Veerman" <>]

People do send in photos for a variety of reasons. Some with a question, sometimes (or more often) because they don't know and are seeking advice. Others reading it (like me) sometimes have to guess whether they want to be told an answer, whether they also want everyone else to be told the answer or whether to start a discussion on the issue. My method is usually to post an answer to the list when it is obvious or likely to interest others, so that we don't need to get lots of the same responses. But sometimes I just reply to the sender.

 

Also people may send in photos with a question when they do know the answer and are providing amusement or challenge. This is the "WOTSIT". In that case it might be best for that person doing it to indicate that is the reason, so as to give others time to make their own contribution. Hinted at by Geoffrey's "An astute piece of jumping in". But to be fair I think John may not have known it was the latter use. For what it is worth my response was: South end of a Horsfield's (or maybe Shining) B-C. So I was close but not not fully correct.

 

Now I wonder if my answer to Geoffrey's latest mystery bird is correct........

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Tuesday, 7 October 2014 9:44 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Also seen at C Park yesterday

An astute piece of jumping in, John, and quite correct.  I tend to forget the tradition of the WOTSIT might not be appreciated by our younger members.  It began in pre-digital days when Mark Clayton used to collect cryptic images, such as a dark shape disappearing into the sky at dusk,  to administer in the occasional Bird Quiz.  With digital photography ‘collecting’ became unnecessary as the clearest image can be cropped or otherwise processed to produce a totally baffling product.   Therefore WOTSITS must be used with extreme care, and be, like clues in the best cryptic crosswords, FAIR (however difficult).  If possible, a WOTSIT should match something in a person’s visual experience, even if not at once recognisable.  There was a little story attached to the SBC.  Its call, yesterday morning, was from near at hand, but the bird was invisible until located directly overhead at the top of a euc where its size and shape from below matched the dark leaves surrounding it.  When calling these small cuckoos are often like that

 

As there is not much appetite these days for the formal chatline quiz, with these occasional WOTSITS you can tell me what you think it is, if you like, or just keep the answer to yourself.  A couple of others got it, including a well-known member at his Darwin outpost.

 

Now, not all that cryptic, but something else that was going on yesterday, if you know what it is …

 

    

 

From: John Harris [
Sent: Monday, 6 October 2014 7:22 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc: chatline
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Also seen at C Park yesterday

 

Only just realised this is a question. Well someone has to jump in. A Shining Bronze Cuckoo for my money.

Some on Percival Hill at the moment.

 

 

 

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb <>
Date: Monday, 6 October 2014 12:32 pm
To: chatline <>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Also seen at C Park yesterday