[rockfowl]

I received this disturbing email yesterday, so apologies to Dr Tomkovich, though I'm sure he wouldn't mind me relaying the depressing news, I've posted it in full.

Dear colleagues,

I just got a phone call from Alexei Dondua, my friend, who spent this
summer season on Belyaka Spit, northern Chukotka, which is one of the
two areas known as key breeding sites for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
It is the area where all my main studies of this species were
undertaken in 1986-1988 (ca. 50 males were breeding there) and in 2002
(22-24 males). During the whole bird breeding season of 2009 in the
very same area Alexei was able to find about 100 nests of waders and
ringed 202 chicks and adults, but DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE RECORD OF Spoon-billed
Sandpiper. This means that one of the two largest local breeding
populations of this species is now extinct. You may remember that in another largest
local population Vladimir Arkhipov and me revealed 12 males this
summer (instead of ca. 70 in early 2000s). This shows how critical in
the current situation with this species. I must say that I am getting
more and more pessimistic about future of this species, it is really
very close to the brink of extinction.

Pavel S. Tomkovich, Dr.Sci.

Very sad news indeed!

Mark

[Mike Shurmer]

This is really depressing news Mark.

[Steve G]

Shocking & distressing!
Sadly it appears that this charismatic wee wader is beyond saving.

[ed keeble]

How utterly depressing.

One question given the shocking breeding returns from the Chukotka sites is whether some of the surviving Myanmar birds could conceivably breed at even more remote sites, which are less impacted by vegetational change and other factors. See here for an interview with Christoph Zockler:

http://10000birds.com/spoon-billed-s...oph-zckler.htm

[rockfowl]

You're right Ed, there is that possibility. I was asked by the recovery team to put the word out requesting inland records from China based on the theory that there may be an alternative route for the wintering birds from Myanmar and formerly Bangladesh. Sadly with so few birdwatchers operating in these areas with limited resources and equipment, an overland migration route will take some time to confirm or dismiss.
Fingers crossed it's the former as we are recording fewer waders it seems, of a variety of species annually now through the eastern seaboard.

[rockfowl]

Any juveniles observed at Rudong this Autumn Mcaribou ?

[mcaribou]

I'm not pretty sure in id the juv.And I wonder that I've never seen any probable juv.
Only the last one on 31 Oct looks like a possible juv,with contrast between wing-coverts and mantle/scapulars.
This bird is not in typical juv plumage.It's kind of winter plumage.Where can I find a reference on its moulting from juv into 1st-winter?

[rockfowl]

Scroll through these, I'll see if I can find other references - http://orientalbirdimages.org/search...ID=&pagesize=1

[ed keeble]

Originally Posted by mcaribou

I'm not pretty sure in id the juv.And I wonder that I've never seen any probable juv.
Only the last one on 31 Oct looks like a possible juv,with contrast between wing-coverts and mantle/scapulars.
This bird is not in typical juv plumage.It's kind of winter plumage.Where can I find a reference on its moulting from juv into 1st-winter?

Here's a couple of mid-October juvs moulting to 1st winter (scroll down to October 12th).

http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Bird...-2006-10.shtml

[Paul Higson]

Realised a life times ambition this February when I saw a small flock of Spoon billed Sandpipers at Pak Thale in Thailand.

A memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life - a shame that this is all this bird may well be in the near future, just a memory......

Anyone thinking of going to see this superb bird - I would do so ASAP.

Cheers,

Paul

[mcaribou]

Here's the pic on 31 Oct,by Chris Sloan
Not very clear pic but in scope it showed the wing-coverts like in photo 14,OBC by Peter Ericsson

[rockfowl]

You could be right Mcaribou, pity the image is not a bit clearer.

[FXM]

Originally Posted by rockfowl

You could be right Mcaribou, pity the image is not a bit clearer.

Hi Mark,

Not the sort of news we want to hear. Hopefully they are breeding in another remote area.

Frank

[mcaribou]

stable wintering population in Minjiang Estuary,Fuzhou.
I saw 6 or 7 on 16 Dec,and the Sunbird tours saw 8 or 9 on 21 Dec.

[Gretchen]

Just posting this to make sure that those interested in spoonbills have seen the other threads on spoonbills on birdforum here and here. I found the link to Sibley's website, and especially the videos very interesting (but us China-folk have to find a way to see Youtube!) fascinating to see the birds' feeding technique, as well as to read Sibley's observations (altogether perhaps 5 entries on spoonbills so far).

[KFC]

Originally Posted by Gretchen

Just posting this to make sure that those interested in spoonbills have seen the other threads on spoonbills on birdforum here and here. I found the link to Sibley's website, and especially the videos very interesting (but us China-folk have to find a way to see Youtube!) fascinating to see the birds' feeding technique, as well as to read Sibley's observations (altogether perhaps 5 entries on spoonbills so far).

Yes, I've really enjoyed the Sibley articles... I wonder if he has seen these threads? So many people are/are becoming interested in spoonbilled sands. I just wish we could do something tangible to help them.

Ken

[rockfowl]

More good news from Myanmar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CNqI...layer_embedded and from Bangladesh with this team, 25 birds so far! - http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1979
How are these birds getting back to the breeding grounds?

Any Spring sightings Mcaribou, Li Ming?

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by mcaribou

one Spooner was recorded near Dongtan NR,Shanghai on 4 Oct.
steadily recorded at Rudong.

Hi Mac,

Do you know the coordinates of this sighting for the recovery team, don't suppose you have access to Google Earth?

[mcaribou]

on 13/14 Mar in Rudong there were lots of waders,but almost no spring waders.
Will visit Rudong and surrounding areas in late Mar.
See yr PM for coordinate.

[rockfowl]

Thanks Mcaribou, appreciated, good luck with the Rudong visit.

[mcaribou]

4 Spooner with a little breeding plumage today in Rudong.Will visit another site in Rudong tmr to see if there r more.

[rockfowl]

Great news Mcaribou, thanks

[MKinHK]

the HK Government has closed Mai Po for 21 days because a dead Barn Swallow was found with H5 virus nearby - see the Govt and WWF press releases here.

A reminder that this is nonsense:

How many proven cases of human H5N1 infection from wild birds anywhere in the world?

ZERO

Cheers
Mike

[mcaribou]

one in Rudong Saltworks today-a gift for my birthday!

[Gretchen]

Happy Birthday Mcaribou! and congratulations on such a nice sighting for the day!

(I guess that the ones you are seeing are in flocks with other sandpipers?)