I'm finding quite a few records (mostly via BirdTrack) that have eight-figure grid references and coordinate uncertainty of 50 m. Some are for marine creatures (cetaceans, seals) though the grid reference shows a location up to several hundred metres inland. In some cases, this could be the position that the observer was - in others, I wonder if they have simply input records once back at the car, or suchlike. In any case, the reported grid ref combined with uncertainty level is problematic and a less precise grid ref (e.g. 4-fig ref) might be more appropriate in many cases. I could query these, though experience so far is that very few queried records get responded to. Do other verifiers accept such records as they are and live with these relatively small displacements or take another approach?
I'm finding quite a few records (mostly via BirdTrack) that have eight-figure grid references and coordinate uncertainty of 50 m. Some are for marine creatures (cetaceans, seals) though the grid reference shows a location up to several hundred metres inland. In some cases, this could be the position that the observer was - in others, I wonder if they have simply input records once back at the car, or suchlike. In any case, the reported grid ref combined with uncertainty level is problematic and a less precise grid ref (e.g. 4-fig ref) might be more appropriate in many cases. I could query these, though experience so far is that very few queried records get responded to. Do other verifiers accept such records as they are and live with these relatively small displacements or take another approach?
Thanks
Nick (NE Scotland Mammals)