rara avis

[caernerch]

Anyone see the blue crested hoopoe in Midsommer Murders? Bit stringy I thought.
regards
caernerch

[Adam Cheeseman]

So rare it doesn't exist. Unless you're the Marquis Gerini!

Plenty of tits there though.

Cheers,

Adam

[solus]

I generally enjoy Midsomer Murders but tonight's had me yelling at the TV!

How can researchers get things so wrong?? (Reminds me of the "Dangerfield" raccoon/badger in a Warwickshire wood many years ago!)

Someone please give 'em a book of British Birds (he recorded a Meadowlark in the background???) and the correct English name for Upupa epops (the Latin mentioned for the "Ugandan Native" "Blue-crested" variety by one character!) Oh, and some more believable binoculars wouldn't have gone amiss either!

I know it's only a fictional tale, but a bit of accuracy somewhere along the line would make the story more believable - surely an 'ordinary' Hoopoe would have been sufficient for the plot, it didn't need a "Mega" "First for Britain", let alone a made-up one! Oh, and if it had to be "twitched" at night, maybe an Owl would have been more plausible? *Sigh*

[Cordaline]

I love Midsomer Murders, nice light-hearted entertainment.
This episode had me rolling on the floor with laughter!
The funniest thing being, that I saw birders behaving just like the ones in the programme, at the Spanish Sparrow in Calshott on Wednesday!
Everyone creeping around & whispering & then the cry goes up, "I've got it!" and they all stampeded up the road, barging each other out the way!
Laughed my socks off, witnessing it for real I did!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by solus

I generally enjoy Midsomer Murders but tonight's had me yelling at the TV!

How can researchers get things so wrong?? (Reminds me of the "Dangerfield" raccoon/badger in a Warwickshire wood many years ago!)

Someone please give 'em a book of British Birds (he recorded a Meadowlark in the background???) and the correct English name for Upupa epops (the Latin mentioned for the "Ugandan Native" "Blue-crested" variety by one character!) Oh, and some more believable binoculars wouldn't have gone amiss either!

I know it's only a fictional tale, but a bit of accuracy somewhere along the line would make the story more believable - surely an 'ordinary' Hoopoe would have been sufficient for the plot, it didn't need a "Mega" "First for Britain", let alone a made-up one! Oh, and if it had to be "twitched" at night, maybe an Owl would have been more plausible? *Sigh*

I thought the Blue-crested Hoopoe was made up until I googled it. The Marquis Gerini claimed that the usual Hoopoes around his area in Italy all had blue tips to their crests not black and thus he created the Blue-crested Hoopoe. It would appear however that he is the only person ever to have recorded this feature though.

I think the use of American bird names was deliberate to make them all look like the bunch of goons they were, apart from the James whatshisname who, after two others had listed off a ream of american bird names for a possible species they had seen from the hide, pointed out that the bird was a Redstart.

Cheers,

Adam

[Harold Smith]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

I think the use of American bird names was deliberate to make them all look like the bunch of goons they were, apart from the James whatshisname who, after two others had listed off a ream of american bird names for a possible species they had seen from the hide, pointed out that the bird was a Redstart.

Cheers,

Adam

I wonder if they have used the American bird names to attract the Americans. Apparently there is very large American following of the programme, though I'm not sure if it is actually broadcast in America.

However, I think the producers should stick to recognizable British names as the programme is made and set in Britain. After all the Americans do not provide such concessions for their programmes broadcast in this country.

Harold.