Saunder's Gull, China - Aggressive Body Moult? (1 Viewer)

[rockfowl]

Hi,

Just wondered about your thoughts as to why this >1st sum Saunder's Gull is in such a state (taken late May 2008) I regularly see them in the Spring and Autumn but have never come across one with such an altered jizz, if you see what I mean. Is this down to an aggressive moult regime, sickness, your thoughts appreciated.
2nd image a more typical jizz of a juv>1st winter taken in November

Mark

 

[JANJ]

Hello Mark.

Well - that´s a heavily worn 1st summer Saunder´s you have there (not sure I would score the right species if the bird was in a quiz) and the difference from the first winter in Nov. is quite obvious.
Whether the late May bird s in moult or not I can´t say but the feather loss around it´s bill (which makes the bill looks huge for the species) might suggest moult. The heavy wear could be due to habitat - sandy beaches (sand blasting) - sunnny conditions or retarded - simply a sick individual.

JanJ

 

[rockfowl]

Thanks Jan,

Fortunately the bird was found at quite close quarters with other first summer birds (all immaculate with black hoods and white crescents) and although this bird looks a mess, feeding wise, behaviour was as expected, constantly hunting crabs on the mud flats with what I regard as a healthy appetite.
Certainly an odd one - the feather loss significantly altering the shape

Mark

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Hi Mark,

Although not quite as scruffy as yours, this is one from the trip last year which shows similar wear!

See you around

Darrell

 

[rockfowl]

Hi Mark,

Although not quite as scruffy as yours, this is one from the trip last year which shows similar wear!

See you around

Darrell

Hi Darrell,

Didn't see that bird but certainly showing some similarities though I think this years would win the award for the scruffiest!

Mark

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Darrell

Have you considered Relict Gull for your bird, We've had a couple of grotty Relicts in HK over the last couple of winters and your bird looks pretty similar to these, especially the bunched neck and bill, but also the general jizz and the worn state of plumage. The eye also looks small to me.

I have to admit I've never seen a Saunders' like Rockfowl's. Relict crossed my mind for that too, but what's left of the structure still suggests a small gull - and Relict is a size up. It also help to hear that it was seen feeding propoerly and incompany of other Saunders'

Cheers
Mike

 

[rockfowl]

Hi Darrell

Have you considered Relict Gull for your bird, We've had a couple of grotty Relicts in HK over the last couple of winters and your bird looks pretty similar to these, especially the bunched neck and bill, but also the general jizz and the worn state of plumage. The eye also looks small to me.

I have to admit I've never seen a Saunders' like Rockfowl's. Relict crossed my mind for that too, but what's left of the structure still suggests a small gull - and Relict is a size up. It also help to hear that it was seen feeding propoerly and incompany of other Saunders'

Cheers
Mike

Hi Mike,

As you mentioned with regards my bird, Darrells bird still for me, suggests the structure of a small gull. Relict Gull as you are aware is a size up but also displays a relatively unique jizz often appearing rather disproportionate, with pot belly, small head and chunky neck and in the field, for me anyway, often rather short billed. The bill is also rather distinctively shaped in comparison with Saunder's with more defined angles

For me, Darrell's bird, excluding the rather odd looking bill, still exhibits those Tern-like jizz qualities of a Saunder's.

Have a look at the attached 1st summer Relict's taken during the same period in May

Mark

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Mark

I just did what I should have done yesterday and looked at my own pix of Relict Gulls.

Immediately I did, the small gull jizz of Darrell's bird becomes apparent! Looking feature by feature I think a case (ok, not a very good one!) could be made for Relict, but you're right, the heft of Relict just isn't there.

I've attached a similar back view of this winter's HK Relict Gull, which is what Darrell's pic brought to mind.

Cheers
Mike

 

[lou salomon]

not having seen either of them i'm impressed about the long legged appearance of the initial saunder's gull (long visible tibia), while relict is said to be long legged (similar to med gull) but in these pics doesn't look like that. sure stance and behaviour make a difference but could it be that mark's scruffy saunder's just doesn't have the feather "pillow" on the belly thus looking like on stilts?

cheers,

 

[rockfowl]

Lou,

Relict never really strikes me as being particularly long-legged, the rather pot belly may have something to do with this - attached a different angle on Relict Gull.
You maybe right about the lack of feather "pillow" on the belly, though in the field this was not obvious. Another image of this rather odd individual attached

mark

 

[mcaribou]

moult in July/August

Hi,rockfowl
look at some of my pics recently at Rudong as in http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=120375

It's not far from their breeding sites north in Yancheng.In about 1,000 Saunder's,most are juv who can fly well.Just a few with not full black hoods.Besides,there're many individuals in moult.They can't fly.When tide comes up,they just walk and stay at the rideau where we watch the shorebirds.We can catch them for they can just swim in the tide.They show long-looked bills due to the moult at bill bases.

 

[rockfowl]

Hi Mcaribou,

No wonder they're endangered, the individual in the hand appears to be falling apart! Interesting feather moult around the bill base, I can see why mine looked so odd. I hope the breeding season was a success this year?
A useful link - good luck with the Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Mark

 

[mcaribou]

On 17th at Rudong,total number and the number of moulting ones shown in my post were not so large as two weeks ago.I guess many of them had had some flight feathers grown so they didnt need to walk or swim
Btw,I saw 6 adult Spoon-billed Sandpipers.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Is it normal for moulting Saunders Gull to be unable to fly????

 

[rockfowl]

Is it normal for moulting Saunders Gull to be unable to fly????

I would say not Joern, rather worrying really!
Congratulations Mcaribou on the Spoon-billed Sandpipers, I will inform the research team as all records are now important, this wonderful species is in desperate trouble!

Mark