2cy LBBG L-xx709, July 11 2002, Etaples, France (50.42N,1.34E).
A 2cy LBBG, ringed in Belgium: Bruxelles L-??709. The moult in the
tail-feathers is nearly completed with one tail-feather growing (R1), R2-4 new,
R5 missing and R6 still juvenile. Primaries P7-P10 are still juvenile and P5
equals P4 in length and has to grow just an inch or so.
In the tertials: #1-2 are fresh, #3 is growing, #4-6 are post-juvenile feathers,
slightly abraded already.
In the greater coverts: #1 is post-juvenile, #2-3 are much newer, though showing
little wear in the tips, #4 is post-juvenile, #5 is growing, #6-8 are fresh and
#9 (the last visible feather) is missing.
Medians #1-2 are post-juvenile, #3 is missing, #4 is fresh, #5 is post-juvenile,
#6 is fresh, #7 is probably post-juvenile, #8 is fresh, #9 is post-juvenile, #10
is fresh.
The lower lesser covert bar consist of 3 post-juvenile feathers, 3 missing
feathers and 5 fresh feathers. The post-juvenile feathers were moulted half a
year ago and look very abraded, hardly different from juvenile feathers.
In the lesser coverts 8 feathers were replaced in the post-juvenile moult, about
50% is fresh and about 25% is missing.
The scapulars consist mainly of third generation feathers, but 25% is still
second generation and very abraded. The fresh third generation feathers are dark
grey. The older third generation feathers turn brown already.