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From:
To: ;
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:30 AM
Subject: Re: Little Stint at Cheetham Wetlands
Hi Mike,
I agree that Little Stints are sometimes found in
reversed cycles in Australia, and we'd have very few records without such
wierdos. But perhaps we are too ready to ascribe reversed cycles to them in some
circumstances. The Ashmore Reef bird, for instance, could simply have started
moult late - it looks like pretty worn breeding plumage, with the tertials
either having started moult, or become so worn that the rufous fringes are not
visible. I've seen the odd Red-necked Stint in NWA in full breeding plumage in
early October, so it can happen to them too.
I'm not aware of major differences in typical moult
sequences of adult Little and Red-necked Stints. There is a big difference in
the first year {Little Stints moult all their primaries in their first austral
summer and in Feb-May develop a first alternate plumage as brightly coloured as
that of full adults; Red-necked Stints don't moult their primaries (except for
the outer 1 or 2 in about 5% of Vic birds) and their first alternate plumage
looks quite similar to non-breeding}. I can't see anything on the Cheetham bird
that actually clinches its age; the outer primaries are too concealed to make
any assessment of their wear.
I don't think the Cheetham bird could go greyer at
this time of year (given its very fresh breeding plumage that is also
responsible for the right-hand tramline) without doing something highly
aberrant, which I cannot explain at all. If it weren't for that assymetrical
plumage I would think two birds were involved. It would be great if further
photos could be obtained as this odd moult progresses.
Cheers, Danny
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