Possible Intermediate Egret, Lake Ellesmere

[Jan]

Yes, the moorhen was accepted by the RAC but all we locals continued to be very sceptical......There were Ozzies and Brits on the ship who were adamant they saw an Osprey as we were at Pitt Is in the Chathams. They were most unhappy when it was confirmed as an old Harrier by we Kiwis, including Brian Bell.

[andrewcrossland]

Its a common phenomenon - just look at the Ashley River Grey Heron encounter all those years ago. concomitant with the rank and international prestige of the ornithologist making the blunder, the more deeply entrenched is the problem of overturning the record.
But to be fair to the Lake Ellesmere moorhen guy, from memory his UBR (and his chance to say what he actually saw) was sufficient for the record to be accepted.