Appendix III: Guidelines for Acceptance of a First for Britain

In the case of a claimed ‘First for Britain’:

– Ideally the bird should be seen by a number of independent people and have supporting photographs or videos

– The Committee expects detailed independent notes from at least two of the main observers as well as photographs

For submissions without a photograph:

– The Committee expects independent sets of notes from all the major observers [preferably with sketches] and sight of their field notes

– The Committee will be wary of accepting a first when the observers do not have extensive experience of both the species claimed and confusion species

– The overall experience of the observers becomes a major factor in the assessment of the record even when The Committee is dealing with obvious species

– The past track record of the observer becomes a major factor in the assessment of the record

For records where there is only a single observer [or a very closely attached group of observers; e.g. a birder and a relatively non-birding companion:

– Then, even when supported by a photograph, the previous track record of the observer MUST be taken into account

– Then, even when supported by a photograph, the Committee should have sight of original field notes

– Then, in at least one photograph, the Committee should be able to see some recognisable feature of the landscape

– In any sequence of photographs the Committee should have evidence that they were taken in a continuous sequence

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