A big dose of Sedge Warblers down at the reserve this morning (about 150 processed amongst a catch of nearly 200 birds), one of which appeared to be undertaking an unusually extensive post-breeding moult. The standard partial post-breeding moult in Sedge Warblers involves the replacement of body feathers only, this bird obviously had other ideas,...
Right wing: primaries 1-3 (numbered descendently) new and fully grown; 4 new, almost fully grown; 5 in pin, not visible in image; 6 missing; 7 old; 8 new, almost fully grown; and 9 old. Primary coverts have been/are being replaced in line with the primary moult.
Left wing: primaries 1-3 new and fully grown; 4 new, almost fully grown; 5-7 in pin/missing, not visible in image; 8-9 new and fully grown. Primary coverts have been/are being replaced in line with the primary moult. One secondary (4?) (numbered ascendently) is also in pin/missing, not visible in image and the fourth greater secondary covert has been replaced.
The bird was showing a limited amount of body moult and no moult in the tail, as would be expected.
Presumably this moult will be suspended and the bulk of the secondaries (plus tertials and tail) replaced in the winter quarters.
* 'interesting' in this instance is being used in a loose, ironic or downright misleading manner and may, or may not, denote the actual existence, or former/future existence, of anything described as 'of interest' as per standard English usage.
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