Greg, the Flat Rock, Ballina (30/5/2010) Wandering Tattler is certainly in
full breeding plumage - at least as 'full' as it seems to get while in
Australia. But that bird seems to be late in leaving for the breeding
grounds if, in fact, it did. Wandering Tattlers are said to be arriving on
the breeding grounds in May but that may not be 'Australian' birds, of
course.
If it was the same bird which arrived [back] at Flat Rock on 29/6/2010 it
seems to me to be unlikely that it did the full round trip to the breeding
grounds but if it did the plumage would be well worn. It certainly has been
well worn on returning adults I have photographed on the Sunshine Coast. I
suggest it didn't go too far before deciding not to do the journey and
returned to Flat Rock to stay for the duration. Who knows why they do that?
There is proof of other species doing that so I can easily imagine some
Wandering Tattlers turning back or being turned back mid-stream.
The process of moult appears not to be too well understood for Wandering
Tattlers but it is known that, for returning breeding adults, the primaries
moult after the birds arrive in Australia but the body feathers may start to
moult in August on the way to Australia. Perhaps there are hormonal changes
in breeding birds that don't do the trip to the breeding grounds which alter
the moult process and such birds hold onto the 'full' breeding plumage
longer.
Most of the breeding plumage should have gone by November/December. All of
the returning adults I have seen on the Sunshine Coast have had very little
evidence of the breeding plumage left by the time they have arrived around
the beginning of November.
The two overwintering Wandering Tattlers this year sound like 1st year birds
which don't achieve any sign of breeding plumage.
I am working on some images of the overwintering birds I have seen on the
Sunshine Coast and I will have them on my website in a day or two (the great
race on Sunday may slow me down). That will add to your photo and those of
Greg Roberts which should give a good representation of what to expect when
looking for or at possible/probable overwintering Wandering Tattlers.
Bob Inglis
Sandstone Point
Qld
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve McBride
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2012 9:39 PM
To: 'Greg Roberts' ;
Cc: 'Robert Inglis'
Subject: Wandering Tattler time is approaching
Hi Greg,
The attached photo was taken at Flat Rock, Ballina on 30/5/2010. Looks like
full breeding plumage to me. The bird disappeared for a few weeks, (no
Tattlers seen for 4 weeks), then presumably the same bird (looked the same)
reappeared at Flat Rock on 29/6/2010. Was it the same bird, did it attempt
migration & then abort, who knows? It was then seen regularly at Flat Rock
(but not every visit), for next few months. From memory, not sure, but I
don't think it lost the breeding plumage until Sept/Oct, or perhaps even
later?
This year (Winter 2012), we had 2 over-winter Wandering Tattlers (seen
regularly at Flat Rock), both in non-breeding plumage. On 8/9/2012 a third
Wandering Tattler appeared at Flat Rock in what looked like full breeding
plumage. On that day there was lots of calling & chasing between the 3
Wandering Tattlers. The new arrival seemed to upset the other 2 birds.
Make of that whatever you like.
Cheers,
Steve McBride
Ballina
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