Spoon-billed Sandpipers in China (1 Viewer)

[KFC]

Excellent video. You should know that the appeal website for donations seems to be unaccessible : http://wwt.org.uk.sbsappeal/

I'll make sure the WWT are aware. Thanks
Ken

 

[mcaribou]

Just a quick heads up for those out surveying and observing the Spooners return passage through E.China to keep a special eye out (yes I know you are anyway) for any potentially colour flagged/ringed juveniles. These are the 'head-started' juveniles from the project, I believe that nine were successfully raised and released - http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/800.aspx?s_id=579012900 and http://www.saving-spoon-billed-sand...n/chukotka-2012/headstarting-in-meinypilgyno/

Good luck and fingers crossed!

pls allow me to forward the photos

 

[mcaribou]

and one adult in Dongtai on 3 Sep

 

[KFC]

Excellent video. You should know that the appeal website for donations seems to be unaccessible : http://wwt.org.uk.sbsappeal/

This link works for anyone who would like to donate...

www.wwt.org.uk/sbs

Cheers
Ken

 

[mcaribou]

On 15 in Rudong we watched quite a few adult spooner feeding on the mudflat when the tide just started to go down.Then all the birds moved away with the tide.No birds around us so we decided to follow them.
Just when carrying my scopes,one bird appeared right in front of us and I could id it by my eyes as a spooner.Thru bins and scopes we found that it was a juv.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We enjoyed it for a moment and it flew to follow its parents
more photos later...

ps. 4 adults are still in br plumage,later in moult than the others(50+ in total).and one adult with flag from its breeding ground.

 

[mcaribou]

photos

:cat:
the one in flight is the juv. in which u can see the pale V on the mantle

 

[KFC]

:cat:
the one in flight is the juv. in which u can see the pale V on the mantle

Excellent news. Even from that photo, it is easy to see that it is a juvenile. Amazing also how late these birds hold on to summer plumage.

Very glad for this positive news. Well done.
Ken

 

[mcaribou]

Hi Ken
Even the ones which look like non-br plumage still hold one or two old outer primaries.
Besides the one with light green flag posted above,we also had another bird with yellow flag which we need to confirm with the Russian/Vietnamese where it was banded 'cause we didnt see the lower legs.But it cant be banded in NWAustralia.

 

[jonathmartinez]

I think I remember that a bird has been flagged in Sakhalin, wich use yellow over white combinaison. It could be well this bird.
Jonathan

 

[mcaribou]

I think I remember that a bird has been flagged in Sakhalin, wich use yellow over white combinaison. It could be well this bird.
Jonathan

In the spring of 2011 we did have our first Yellow-White spooner from Sakhalin which was a 2nd or 3rd cy bird due that the Russians only had banded three juv. in 2009 and 2010.
That bird had the flags on right leg and this time the bird had it on its left leg.So we should wait for more info.

 

[jonathmartinez]

ooohhh, that's interesting. Thanks for these informations.

 

[mcaribou]

The juv. was seen again today in Rudong,with four adults in more or less br plumage.

 

[KFC]

Amazed the birds are still retaining a lot of breeding plumage so late. This seems unusual. I'm glad the juv. is still alive and well - or could it be a different bird?

Thanks for keeping us informed.
Ken

 

[mcaribou]

Amazed the birds are still retaining a lot of breeding plumage so late. This seems unusual. I'm glad the juv. is still alive and well - or could it be a different bird?

Thanks for keeping us informed.
Ken

who knows,unless we see a headstarted juv. B

 

[thrush]

Last week at Yangkou, I discovered the spoon-billed sandpiper on the mudflats and in the fish ponds. I found individuals with traces of breeding plumage and in full non-breeding plumage. Using my mattress, I was able to float to within 8.9 m of a beautiful specimen in non-breeding plumage. Here are some shots of my individuals plus another image showing my client Branyo on the mattress. My clients are well-trained, committed birders, and our rule is never stand up, never scare the flock, always back off, always be a silent witness. See my Web site for even more images.

 

[Gretchen]

Love the scratching bird in the 4th shot - a very nice view of that special bill!

 

[mcaribou]

southern Rudong today in not very high tide 5 Spooner.

 

[mcaribou]

southern Rudong today in not very high tide again and 17 Spooner(1 juv).60 Nordmann's Greenshank.

 

[rockfowl]

Very nice Mc, you are doing a sterling job there... and still hoping you are going to find one of them leg-flagged juveniles!

 

[mcaribou]

I do hope to see more juv. no matter leg-flagged or not
sleeping juv. Red-necked Stint seems to me impossible to tell from juv. Spooner so maybe a flag can give me kind of clue(I hope they dont do the same flags on Red-necked Stint)