Summer plumage

[goosey]

I was at the beach this morning and all of a sudden summer plumage! When did that happen I was down there on Sunday and didn't notice the Turnstones had started to change (they aren't in full summer plumage yet), and black headed gulls with black heads, they were whitish with a grey spot last time I looked.
I have only become interested in sea birds/waders since September so really don't know about these things (just that 1st, 2nd, adult, winter, summer plumage is very confusing for Iding ) is it more a case that it is to attract a mate than have lighter weight plumage more akin to warmer weather? It does seem rather early?

[paul m]

As mentioned, Urban bird behaviour , most of the small gulls I saw in Amsterdam last week had black heads so not surprising that you have some! I've no idea what time plumage changes for gulls .....

[Ferret]

I have had a trawl threw my books etc and have come up with this:-

Black-headed Gulls go threw a pre-breeding moult of head and body feathers changing from there white headed with a dark ‘ear’ to the summer brown head, this normally starts late January to early February but the head moult can start as early as late December after warm winters.
They also winter as far south as Nigeria on the west coast of Africa and are back on there breeding grounds from March.

So the birds you are seeing may be on there return to there breeding ground and had started there moult elsewhere, I know from watching some colour ringed birds (not Gulls) that it very easy to assume that when you see the same species at the same place every day that they are the same birds, but quite often they are not and there is much more local and longer distance movements in response to weather, feeding opportunities, breeding, etc than we are aware of, and you are in fact seeing different birds each time.

Hope that helps a little, Ferret

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Ferret

I have had a trawl threw my books etc and have come up with this:-

Black-headed Gulls go threw a pre-breeding moult of head and body feathers changing from there white headed with a dark ‘ear’ to the summer brown head, this normally starts late January to early February but the head moult can start as early as late December after warm winters.
They also winter as far south as Nigeria on the west coast of Africa and are back on there breeding grounds from March.

So the birds you are seeing may be on there return to there breeding ground and had started there moult elsewhere, I know from watching some colour ringed birds (not Gulls) that it very easy to assume that when you see the same species at the same place every day that they are the same birds, but quite often they are not and there is much more local and longer distance movements in response to weather, feeding opportunities, breeding, etc than we are aware of, and you are in fact seeing different birds each time.

Hope that helps a little, Ferret

What a great explanation, thanks Ferret. And yes I did think I was always seeing the same birds.

I couldn't get close enough to get a piccie of the turnstones today, but it only seems a small percentage on the change with white patches appearing on the head.
I did get a picture though of three changing stages of the black-headed gulls, it is a shame they are a bit far apart to compare properly. The second image is of mid stage.

[goosey]

I have just been going through more images from today and have found another example of summer plumage with a Grebe - Podiceps cristatus.
Image 1. winter plumage
Image 2. summer plumage

1. 2.

[RoyW]

In most cases "summer plumage" and "winter plumage" are inaccurate terms to use, even though they are the terms that are well known, and which tend to feature in bird guides.
"Breeding plumage" and "non-breeding plumage" are perhaps better terms, especially when you allow for the fact that "breeding" plumage is acquired prior to breeding for courtship etc, and if a further brood is not likely "non-breeding" plumage can begin to be attained before the young are independent.

As an example, I tend to start seeing the first Black-headed Gulls in full breeding plumage just before Christmas (though other adults may not have full breeding plumage until late March). By early to mid July (the early part of summer) most adult Black-headed Gulls will have at least started to moult out of "summer" plumage!

Great Crested Grebes can be seen in "summer/breeding" plumage at any time of the year, and in mild winters can breed in mid winter (near me there have been a number of records of pairs with eggs or newly hatched young between Christmas and New Years Day!
Your first photo in the above post shows one in transitional plumage btw Goosey - in full non-breeding plumage they lose the orange head plumes completely.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by RoyW

In most cases "summer plumage" and "winter plumage" are inaccurate terms to use, even though they are the terms that are well known, and which tend to feature in bird guides.
"Breeding plumage" and "non-breeding plumage" are perhaps better terms, especially when you allow for the fact that "breeding" plumage is acquired prior to breeding for courtship etc, and if a further brood is not likely "non-breeding" plumage can begin to be attained before the young are independent.

Your first photo in the above post shows one in transitional plumage btw Goosey - in full non-breeding plumage they lose the orange head plumes completely.

It is strange then that the term winter and summer plumage is used so frequently through out literature. I suppose it is just the easiest way to describe to a layman why you are looking at two images of the same bird which look totally different.

I will add "transitional" to the description of the grebe then.

Thanks for all your explanation, it does make more sense now.

[goosey]

I mentioned on the opening post that there were the first signs that some Turnstones had started to change plumage.
Today, there were quite alot of turnstones, some were well into their transition (see image 1. below) where as others looked to still be in full non-breeding plumage.
image 2. is non breeding plumage (photo taken Sept 2011).

1. 2.


I wonder if the birds which change earlier have the "pick" of a mate?

[chris butterworth]

There are quite a high percentage of Turnstone here in NW England achieving breeding plumage ( but it's something I normally expect to see on returning birds in the Autumn ), my first Blackheaded Gull with a 'full' hood was recorded on 3rd January at Het Zwin and Great Crested Grebe were not only in breeding plumage on Saturday but fully displaying at Mere Sands Wood in Lancashire. If you check through wader flocks in the winter it's not uncommon to come up with Bar-tailed Godwit or Grey Plover that have moulted from breeding plumage straight back to breeding plumage, missing out the normal winter plumage ( as far as I know, this is hormonal but it may be genetic in some individuals ).

Chris

[goosey]

Originally Posted by chris butterworth

There are quite a high percentage of Turnstone here in NW England achieving breeding plumage ( but it's something I normally expect to see on returning birds in the Autumn ), my first Blackheaded Gull with a 'full' hood was recorded on 3rd January at Het Zwin and Great Crested Grebe were not only in breeding plumage on Saturday but fully displaying at Mere Sands Wood in Lancashire. If you check through wader flocks in the winter it's not uncommon to come up with Bar-tailed Godwit or Grey Plover that have moulted from breeding plumage straight back to breeding plumage, missing out the normal winter plumage ( as far as I know, this is hormonal but it may be genetic in some individuals ).

Chris

So then , what were you upto in Zeeland?

Talking of Bar-tailed Godwits I saw a pair last week, both in winter plumage, but there have been some recorded this week (I have only seen the photo's) in breeding plumage and how beautiful they looked . There had been quite a lot around of those and loads of curlews but both seem to have moved on.

Do you have any photo's form this years breeding plumage for the thread?

[chris butterworth]

1 - On my way back from spending Christmas and New Year at my partners parents in Champagne - Ardennes ( Stopping off at Brugges for Annette to visit friends, while I scoot off to Het Zwin ). I know it's the long way round but .................

2 - There were plenty of Curlew ( c450 ) at the high tide roost on the River Dee, at West Kirby, yesterday, but they are starting to move back to their breeding grounds just now.

3 - I'm only just getting to grips with a camera again ( after giving up in disgust, about 10 years ago, by being constantly thwarted by Water Rail ) so no photos I'm afraid. I'll see what I can do in the Autumn.

Chris

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by chris butterworth

If you check through wader flocks in the winter it's not uncommon to come up with Bar-tailed Godwit or Grey Plover that have moulted from breeding plumage straight back to breeding plumage, missing out the normal winter plumage ( as far as I know, this is hormonal but it may be genetic in some individuals ).

This is something that I've never heard. What are you basing this on? Is it just the fact that a few summer plumaged individuals can occasionally be seen in wader flocks at most times during the winter, or do you have information on studies that have confirmed that some are replacing old breeding plumage feathers with new breeding plumage feathers?
This sounds very interesting so I'm very keen to know if you do have any studies that you can like to or quote.

Thanks,

Roy.

[chris butterworth]

Hi Roy. I'm afraid I can't, for the life of me, remember ( offhand ) where I came across the info on birds 'missing out' winter plumage and going straight to breeding but I do remember it mentioning that it was caused, primarily, by a hormonal imbalance. Sorry I can't be more helpful. When I get home I'll have a rummage around and see if I can find out any more.

Chris

[RoyW]

Thanks for replying anyway Chris!
Don't go out of your way to find the details (I doubt you would anyway), but I'd be very interested if you do remember where you saw this.
I would assume that something like this would have to have a hormonal, and/or perhaps genetic cause. i could imagine that, in theory, it might be possible for the genes that determine the appearance of non-breeding plumage to be replaced with a copy of the genes for breeding plumage!

[goosey]

I am gutted, apparantly there were 421 (must have been a dood and quick counter) Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) flying over the beach yesterday and photos of so many feeding and I wasn't there (good on the people that saw them though and went down their in the rain and gales they deserved thei piccies). I had hope to try my luck this morning but its still horrid weather . I saw some a few months back in their winter plumage but have been wanting to see the breeding colours.

[chris butterworth]

Originally Posted by goosey

.............. but have been wanting to see the breeding colours.

It's best to wait until they start to return at the end of summer, then you can often get a mixed flock of Barwit, Grey Plover and Knot - all in breeding plumage. A sight to blow your mind .

Chris