I was wandering around the MWR yesterday afternoon, following Mike Carter’s tip that RNS don’t normally moult at this time of year.

I came across a couple of Pied Oystercatchers on the harbour side of the tidal pond, which was unusual as they normally roost on on the island. One was clearly an immature. I photographed the other one as it took off and flew over to the island. It is also probably immature and had more white on its upper wing panel and under wing than I think is the norm for AusPOs [the tiny illustration in P&K is of little use]. A quick review of the web found very few pictures of birds with their wings raised.

I have placed a couple of pix on birdforum http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=190903 . The first pic shows the upper wing panel partially reaching the edge of the wing at the body end – the feather ends are part white & part black, like a zebra. I think there are three possibilities – an odd APO, a SIPO or a SIPO-APO hybrid.

I would be interested to hear the views of people familiar with SIPOs.

Regards, Laurie. ===============================

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