Not where I blitzed, but at home there’s one that regularly turns up.
Once, early in my birding days, I asked a veteran what his favourite bird is, and he said “the last one I saw”. I like that philosophy, so if a Spotted Dove is the last I saw, it
is temporarily my favourite.
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 5:07 PM
To: 'Canberrabirds' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] FW: Blitz weekend
My least likely and most pointless bird for the weekend was a Spotted Turtledove. But I put it on a data sheet mainly for the value of the doing so.
I wonder if others got that species.
From: Canberrabirds
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Wednesday, 27 October, 2021 9:08 AM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [Canberrabirds] FW: Blitz weekend
And good morning Steve
Actually no. The pointless choice would have been Pacific Black Duck. I omitted to mention it was quite soggy under the Redwoods …
From: Steve Read <>
Sent: Wednesday, 27 October 2021 8:09 AM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb' <>
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Blitz weekend
Good morning Geoffrey
Have you had provided the best or correct answer to your quiz below? I would have selected White-bellied Sea-eagle, had I entered…
Regards
Steve
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Monday, 25 October 2021 3:53 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Blitz weekend
I spent an hour and half in the fire-damaged Redwood Forest, now cleaned up, but cleaned up to the point that birds were few - a paltry 18 species, mostly at the margins. Overall the condition of these drought-averse giants of the US Pacific
coast would cause John Muir to burst into tears were he to pay a visit. However, a few were showing some signs of having enjoyed the recent rains. As to bird species, I could mention a couple of least likelies, but I prefer to think of my modest list as
a suitable subject for that BBC television quiz POINTLESS where the contestant must nominate a CORRECT but MOST OBSCURE candidate in a field of possibilities. The most obscure earns 100 points, the least obscure but one. (Obscurity has been set by pre-testing
the list on 100 people.)
Thus: The subject is my species list. Name a species that is CORRECT (ie on the list) but the least likely to be on it. If the contestant says ‘Australian Magpie’ they will be correct but score few points (perhaps just one). If they
are bold and say ‘Sacred Kingfisher’ the bell will go SPOINNNGG !!! - not on the list and no points.
