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Possible Nordmann's

Out in Deep Bay yesterday there was a "heated" discussion about whether this was a Greenshank or Nordmann's.
Confirmation would be appreciated.
Thanks, Neil.

Nikon D800 and NIkon 300/4 AFS and Nikon TC14E 11
Deep Bay,
Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong,China
07/08/12

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/7737089442/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7255/7737089442_cd7eeafbbc_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550@N03/7737089442/]greenshank nordmanns D800 s_N8D6409.jpg[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/7892550@N03/]neilfif11[/url]

I'd say this is a worn breeding adult Nordmann's Greenshank just beginning the moult into non-breeding plumage. Jizz-wise (tubular-looking bill, shortish-looking tibia) it looks like Nordmann's. The visible feather-patterning amongst all the worn dark feathers suggests Nordmann's to me too. I checked the OBC image database but there are no photos of Nordmann's in this plumage.

David

[[i] Last edited by ddavid at 8/08/2012 15:16 [/i]]

I agree that this is a Nordmann's moulting out of breeding plumage, for the reasons given by Dave - structure and 'notched' pattern on retained breeding scapulars. I don't think Common Greenshank would ever show this head and neck pattern as well - pale with darker 'blotches' (rather than well-defined streaks), resembling the winter plumage of Nordmann's. The new winter-plumage feathers moulting into the back are also more like Nordmann's (pale grey, with plain white fringes).

I agree this a Nordmann's but not convinced it is an adult given that it is the early stages of moult and entirely lacks adult type plumage below. Most other adult tringas at this time of year are still clearly in adult plumage. Why is this not a first-summer bird?

Yes, you're probably right that this is a first summer. There are a few worn breeding-type feathers (with white notches) in the upperparts, but most of the old feathers are not those of a breeding bird. For some reason I didn't think about first summer plumage yesterday when I wrote my reply.

Yes - given the pale underparts etc., I'd agree that this is most likely a worn 1st-summer bird. Very interesting - not a plumage that many birders are familiar with, I imagine!

David