[njlarsen]

These are mostly for confirmation (I hope ).

The first one is a Yellowlegs that I have down as a Greater. I noted a flight call in agreement with the description, three syllables. This one from the wetland where Llute river meets the beach.

Second is a Yellow-Finch, I think Greenish. Just before Putre, so about 3500 m.a.s.l.

Third is two images of the same bird -- clearly a male as it was singing its heart out. I think the double white areas (uppertail coverts and base of tail) makes it a Chestnut-throated Seedeater, but if so, it has to be an immature male that was singing (see throat on image four). Blowing the original up a lot I think there are traces of color ... This one is from lowlands in the Llute river valley, among agricultural fields.

Thanks
Niels

[Jeff hopkins]

Agree with greater yellowlegs, but I can't help on the others.

[Brian J Small]

Yellow Finch looks like olivascens to me.

Seedeater, as you say, is a worn (young?) male Sporophila telasco - when very fresh they are browner buff, but wear grey.

http://www.pbase.com/tonbenrob/image/70175235

Brian

[njlarsen]

Thank you both!

I will continue with a couple of gulls from the same area (Llute river at the beach), which I all believe to be band tailed gull; ages are the question.

The first image shows in the middle what I think is a second alternate plumage (about two years after birth, or third calender year). I believe that it is the same bird in flight on the second photo, showing the darker middle coverts than the rest of upper wing.

But what about the other two gulls? how young are they?

thanks
Niels

[JANJ]

Hi Niels.

You are correct with - indeed Belcher´s Gull - a second cycle. The other two are the same species but of course younger individuals, that is to say first cycle, all depending on breeding time, which can be all year round - otherwise approx. Oct to Feb, March.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MGH271/B...LarusBelcheri#

JanJ

[njlarsen]

Thank you Jan,
I have looked at the images, and I am not quite sure where the division between first cycle and second basic is, but even so, I assume that the attached image is a second basic?

thanks
Niels

[JANJ]

The term cycle = everything between juvenile to first summer when the complete moult starts resulting in 2nd cycle.
Since the last image here is of a 1st cycle meaning perhaps on this individual 1st basic if it hasn´t started it´s complete moult - which includes the primaries.

JanJ

[njlarsen]

Thanks Jan,
It looks to me as if the entire breast area is pale and the head is sharply set of from the neck (the second thing is easier to see on this new image of the same bird). That was why I was putting this into second cycle, but clearly not as far along as the middle bird in image one.

thanks
Niels