The reason I leave it until the last minute to write the answers is because so are most entries (left until the last minute) and I have to wait to see what you lot come up with so I can explain why it isn't that

Paul Cliff wrote:

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and just one minute mister! you've a whole bloody month and 3 days to write your crucifixion statement!

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I think you've hit the nail on the head there, Paul.

Maybe McEvil doesn't decide what the answers are until he's seen our entries?



Steve

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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You can enter or indeed change your entry right up until the answers are published which is usually about the 3rd of the month, depending on when I can find the four or so hours minimum it takes me to write the damn thing

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pure evil i tell you!

3 days of evil!

and just one minute mister! you've a whole bloody month and 3 days to write your crucifixion statement!

You can enter or indeed change your entry right up until the answers are published which is usually about the 3rd of the month, depending on when I can find the four or so hours minimum it takes me to write the damn thing

Paul Cliff wrote:

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apparently if the sadistic barsteward has not posted the answers there is still time to possibly change your mind...

-- Edited by Paul Cliff on Monday 1st of November 2010 08:23:10 PM

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Strangely, its not that that is bothering me Paul. Its the sheer simple fact that I cant see things right in fromt of my face. Saying that I'll probably get 2 out of 2 now (not).

apparently if the sadistic barsteward has not posted the answers there is still time to possibly change your mind...

-- Edited by Paul Cliff on Monday 1st of November 2010 08:23:10 PM

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH. I know he's not posted the answers yet but I've just realised what a *@#^^$£ idiot I've been!!!

Phooey!!

I'm one of those who looks every month but never actually enters (shame), I think McKevil deserves our support however for the time and effort he must put into running this comp, so, although I've little idea what this months rascals are I'm going to get out my Observers book of birds, have a go and get them both wrong.
Cheers Ian

McKevils misery bird competition - your monthly dose of agony with very little ecstasy!

Steve Suttill wrote:

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Well No.2 is definitely Bramble (Blackberry) and I'm pretty sure No. 1 is Willow. Can't find the Brambling or the Willow Tit though

Steve

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And if you look top right of pic one, there is definately some Lichen!!

Well No.2 is definitely Bramble (Blackberry) and I'm pretty sure No. 1 is Willow. Can't find the Brambling or the Willow Tit though

Steve

After looking at the latest answers through the fingers of my slapped face, I hear the internal groan after looking at the latest batch of pics, and my face hits the keyboard.......

/drums fingers on the desk...

i don't know what is worse, the agony of waiting to find out just how wrong you got it or the waiting to find out which two you're going to get wrong this month.

pull your finger out Mister - or i'll be lobbying for the name of the monthly mystery bird competition to be changed to the the monthly misery bird competition!

Rubbish! It's a piece of cake!

No.1: The Larch

Paul Cliff wrote:

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it's like slamming you're privates in a door every month!

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I forgot to enter last months before I went away and, as sods law dictates, I would have got at least one of them right - primary projection - hu yeah its just so obvious.

As for this months I think Ian has once again surpassed himself with two shilouhettes (spelling?) that could be anything from an Ivory Billed Woodpecker to a plastic bag containing left over rubbish from the all night 'rave' on the car park at Pennington.

This month I think I shall use the Field Guide, random number table and needle technique!!!!

it's like slamming you're privates in a door every month!

i am seriously gonna knee him in the balls next time i see him - it's only fair.

JOHN TYMON wrote:

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another good round-and if anyone is interested the only one i have got wrong this year is one of my own shotsthe wader one at the beginning of the year ,and im still searching that shot as im sure there is a corner of a sanderling wing in there somewere,and by the way of the 3 shots of mine Ian has used in the last 3 years,ive got all 3 wrongso it could be one of your shots on there that has beenn interfered with in some way by mr Mc
All have a bash this month,and lets have a bumper round,and watch out Browney im on your tail,get one wrong and ill steam past yer ,and leave you again as the masters apprentice




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 3rd of August 2010 07:56:50 AM

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rofl that's just quality that is, I think the only word that fits is "DOH!"

another good round-and if anyone is interested the only one i have got wrong this year is one of my own shotsthe wader one at the beginning of the year ,and im still searching that shot as im sure there is a corner of a sanderling wing in there somewere,and by the way of the 3 shots of mine Ian has used in the last 3 years,ive got all 3 wrongso it could be one of your shots on there that has beenn interfered with in some way by mr Mc
All have a bash this month,and lets have a bumper round,and watch out Browney im on your tail,get one wrong and ill steam past yer ,and leave you again as the masters apprentice




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 3rd of August 2010 07:56:50 AM

Ha ha Paul, bloody warblers, i think you can tell how sneaky Ian has been with how long the explanation of what the actual bird is, have the seen the length of the warbler explanation, i rest my case

Paul Cliff wrote:

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i love the mystery bird comp, i hate the sneaky sadistic barsteward who sets them!

bloody warblers!

still at least the osprey and the the very unusual shot of a female mallard on barbed wire in bahrain are there for easy points this month!



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 4th of June 2010 11:00:30 AM

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What, not feeling the love anymore Paul?

i love the mystery bird comp, i hate the sneaky sadistic barsteward who sets them!

bloody warblers!

still at least the osprey and the the very unusual shot of a female mallard on barbed wire in bahrain are there for easy points this month!



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 4th of June 2010 11:00:30 AM

A late answer to Bill,s 'puppet on a string' thread.I waited till may,s pair have been revealed to see how I got on.Crashed and singed I managed the gropper and was the one entrant sure it was a bonnelli,s,even the V*** in the collins didn,t shake my belife.But there you go it,s a 'no pack drill' contest and Ian is very gentle when dismissing incorrect entrants.I,d ask everyone to have a go and send in an entry.But if your a closet mystery birder at least let Ian know you follow the comp,I just don,t want it to end.

cheers geoff

Bill Myerscough wrote:

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I'm too embarrased to have a go in case I get things wrong and might be hung out to dry like a "Puppet on a String".

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it's a shame you, like a lot of other folk using this forum, don't give it a go Bill. Contributors who manage incorrect answers have never been, nor ever will be published, they are confidential and for my eyes only .

The competition is perhaps the last of it's kind anywhere out there and I like to think actually contains some good learning points from time to time. It's horses for courses though and I appreciate that, it would be a shame to loose it though and just sometimes Manchester Birding needs the support of it's enthusiastic users

Yes, its definitely time for "Making Your Mind Up" and who knows maybe the winners may be partaking of a drop of Bucks Fizz?

I'm too embarrased to have a go in case I get things wrong and might be hung out to dry like a "Puppet on a String".

To those who get it right...." Congratulations and celebrations...."

Showing my age and complete lack of taste with some of these dreadful Eurovison references.

Bill.

Certainly the latter choice would be an abbaration

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Saturday 29th of May 2010 06:44:58 PM

A good long weekend in which to get this month's answers in. It's either that or watching Eurovision tomorrow. There's no naming and shaming, so nothing to fear.

So what you are really saying Paul is Ian is a sneaky sod and once you know that you are on the right track

Watch it Ian, your secret is out, they are onto you

Paul Cliff wrote:

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Dennis atherton wrote:

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That sanderling was my thoughts but how the hell you 11 got that red throated thing?


i take my hat off to you

11 smilies, one each......

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it's not just the birds, it's ian's psyche you have to consider! it didn't look british with the irrigation pipe in the foreground to me so i looked further a field...

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Dennis atherton wrote:

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That sanderling was my thoughts but how the hell you 11 got that red throated thing?


i take my hat off to you

11 smilies, one each......

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it's not just the birds, it's ian's psyche you have to consider! it didn't look british with the irrigation pipe in the foreground to me so i looked further a field...

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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No need I'm afraid Iain, the updates were sucessfully published to the server and are fine on the four computers and Internet accessible devices in my house. It's a common problem due to your own computer I'm afraid which has been experienced by a few regulars from time to time. Once updates are on the server, if they're ok for one viewer then they're ok for all, anything else is a software issue your end. Try clearing your cache etc for a start

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OK thanks Ian - four computers!!!!

That sanderling was my thoughts but how the hell you 11 got that red throated thing?


i take my hat off to you

11 smilies, one each......

No need I'm afraid Iain, the updates were sucessfully published to the server and are fine on the four computers and Internet accessible devices in my house. It's a common problem due to your own computer I'm afraid which has been experienced by a few regulars from time to time. Once updates are on the server, if they're ok for one viewer then they're ok for all, anything else is a software issue your end. Try clearing your cache etc for a start

Ian, for some reason I can't see the answers from April or the photos for May?! Please could you check the website settings?

Thanks Iain

Tis tis tut tut,after slaving over the mystery birds and confidently entering each month without much success,the one month i get it right Mr Mck excludes me from the list . I know mistakes can happen but to say I,m miffed does,nt cover it, I might even spit my dummy out.

dejected geoff

i don't know who's worse or to blame - the sadist that sets them or the masochists that keep going back month after month. i know for sure it's not healthy!

I'm guilty of ignoring my instinct and 'talking' myself out of the true identity on both the warbler and the Turnstone at the bottom RHS of the January shot..
I convinced myself that the under-tail coverts on the Icterine were too log for a Hippolais and ended up going for Marsh Warbler Couldn't explain the pale wing panel, but bizarrely (with hindsight)put it down to the light in the shot

I'll have to stop over-analysing these things...

All good stuff. Never missed an entry yet and would recommend everyone have a go. Much appreciated Ian - are there more than 24 hours in the day in your neck of the woods?

Matt Potter wrote:

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Rob Thorpe wrote:

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I'd actually typed "Icterine Warbler" on my answers email to Ian, then changed it at the last minute... What a swine!

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My immediate thought as soon as I saw that Warbler was Icterine!! Then out came the bible! Melodious was chucked in the mix, as was Wood and Willow. Checked lengths of primarys and all that guff and went with Willow, although I was happy with the supercillium!! One day I will get one right!!

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Matt, my immediate thought was willow, then thought it looked all wrong. Melodious and chiffie were binned on primary projection, leaving willow, icterine and at an outside bet wood. The thing that bothered me all along was the lighting making the colours false. In the end I decided no icterine would have legs that colour, head shape was wrong and the wing panel was just light playing tricks. Maybe next timem

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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I'd actually typed "Icterine Warbler" on my answers email to Ian, then changed it at the last minute... What a swine!

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My immediate thought as soon as I saw that Warbler was Icterine!! Then out came the bible! Melodious was chucked in the mix, as was Wood and Willow.

Checked lengths of primarys and all that guff and went with Willow, although I was happy with the supercillium!!

One day I will get one right!!

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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I always try 'right-clicking' on the images and checking the properties in the hope that one day Mr McCensor will forget to rename the image...

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It happened once and only once, a very long time ago

I always try 'right-clicking' on the images and checking the properties in the hope that one day Mr McCensor will forget to rename the image...

Steady here peeps,say owt you like about LAST MONTHS but please don,t discuss or hint at the the current beauties,I,ve got to admit I submit my much studied entry every month and 'crash and burn' just as often,as for the leader board i,m very happy if i get any right,

int books ,and google image:,geoff

I'd actually typed "Icterine Warbler" on my answers email to Ian, then changed it at the last minute... What a swine!

So much for my 'Its definitely not a Hippolais' comment!!!!! 0/2 - bout reet.