Dartford warbler

[Little Sparrow]

Originally Posted by astafjevs

It's down to the individual, I think. If you know you're going to go and behave yourself properly, why shouldn't you go? If when you're there you recognise you might be having an adverse effect on the bird, then leave.

I'm yet to see a dartford warbler but it is my number one target bird for Spring! Fortunately I regularly go down to the south coast to see family so I will hopefully not have to resort to twitching one, I'll just have to spend some time in the right areas!

My thoughts also Stuart.
Good luck with your search!

[JONNY74]

Sad to hear some people are letting everybody else down again it's just mindless.

[RoyW__]

An interesting discussion.

Generally it is considered "safer" to release news of scarce birds when there is no chance of them breeding (eg. autumn migrants), but it is also true that the majority of out of place spring migrants will have little chance of finding a mate. That said, there are always individuals who "over step the line" so more thought has to go into whether or not to release news if there is any chance of disturbance being caused.

Originally Posted by Merlin

Which has already happened, just read a report on Manchester Birding and someone "with a big lens" chased it up the hill apparently.

If this bird really was "chased up the hill" then the photographer was causing unnecessary disturbance in this case, buto n some occasions I have seen photographers unfairly criticised simply because they were closer than others watching the bird. Many bird photographers are responsible, and also know how to read the signs that tell them approaching any closer will flush the bird. Problems often come when new arrivals assume that they can walk straight up to photographers who may have taken a considerable amount of time to carefully approach the bird (often after asking permission from other watchers before doing so).
Not all photographers act responsibly - but neither do all birdwatchers.

Originally Posted by JONNY74

And I got some nice views of Black grouse so it's worth a visit warbler or no warbler.

In this case I would suggest that this could be a bigger reason for keeping the presence of the Dartford Warbler quiet than the outside possibility of the warbler finding a mate.
If there are Black Grouse in the area, then they probably are breeding/lekking nearby - and Black Grouse are easily disturbed + declining. Sometimes it's not the bird that people travel to see which suffers from disturbance caused by visitors.

[RoyW__]

Originally Posted by astafjevs

It's down to the individual, I think. If you know you're going to go and behave yourself properly, why shouldn't you go? If when you're there you recognise you might be having an adverse effect on the bird, then leave.

The presence of responsible observers can also help to keep those who may act less responsibly in check - especially if they are prepared to challenge others.

[JONNY74]

Some great points Roy, I think your right about other birders being there stops the idiots being idiots. The area where the bird has been is on a public path anyway where people go walking and walk their dogs etc. So the bird must be quite happy with human presence.
Just as long as people behave themselves everything should be fine.