Re June edition of The Heron

There's some good stuff in the June edition of the club's newsletter, The Heron.

Re the UK decline of the greenfinch, it seems to be a species with decent bouncebackabilty. Its numbers dipped in Cleethorpes for a few years, but this spring they seem to be everywhere (pity they haven't got a more tuneful song!)

Also, I agree with Chris G that there needs to be greater clarity on individual redpoll species. Surely it's not beyond the wit of the authorities to get this sorted.

In his report, he notes that, in response to his submission to the British Birds Records Committee on a particularly puzzling example of the redpoll tribe: "I got no receipt or acknowledgement and found the whole process intimidating."

That's disappointing.

In this era of openness and transparency, it would be helpful if the deliberations of the British Birds Rarities Committee were recorded and made publicly available. I expect Chris and others would have been interested to hear the various observations of committee members.