LBBG 7cy EL83, Missouriweg - Maasvlakte, the Netherlands, April 29 2002. An adult bird ringed left orange EL83, ringed as pullus at the nest, July 9 1996, now in 7cy. Note the very small mirror on p10 and the very small primary tips on the outer primaries, for most worn away. This bird follows an irregular moult sequence, as can be seen in the greater, median and lesser coverts and in the tertials. The 'jumping' sequence is best visible in the greater coverts, were the innermost 3 feathers are old and abraded, #4-6 show neat fringes and one by one another abraded and new feather can be found in the central greater covert bar. Note the central tertials, lacking a white tip, contra the upper and lowest tertials.

LBBG 7cyEL83, May 31 2002, Missouriweg, Maasvlakte, the Netherlands (51.59N,04.02E).

A bird ringed July 09 1996. Compare this bird with his "cousin" EL22 (click hyperlink), which has a much neater plumage, with no moult gaps in the wing-coverts and very plain grey greater coverts. The bird depicted here has the primaries with a brown wash, the primary tips slightly worn and especially the central greater coverts and the inner median coverts with wear in the fringes. Remarkably, it's not only the plumage that has a more faded, worn impression, note also the colour of the ring; faded whitish in this bird, but still much cleaner orange in EL22. Much must be related to the wintering grounds of these two cousins.