Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) at Charca de Zeluán, Avilés, Asturies, September 2002. 

Photos  by Daniel López Velasco
Text by Ricard Gutiérrez

Introduction

A juvenile moulting into 1st winter was located at Zeluán pond, Avilés, Asturies on 10.9. The first in the last 18 years and a true rarity for Spain (CM Alvárez Lao, C Álvarez Usátegui, E García Sánchez/Coordinadora Ornitolóxica d'Asturies)The bird was still there on 22.9.(Daniel López, Joan Gil). 
A number of photos were taken using a Nikon Coolpix 885 attached to a Leica Apo Televid telescope on 16.9 and we think it is interesting to feature them here.

Photographs

All photos depicting 1st winter Wilson's Phalarope (P.tricolor) by Daniel López

Wilson's Phalarope  Phalaropus tricolor. Zeluán pond, Avilés, Asturies, 16.9.2001 (© Daniel López) Notice the colour of bare parts and length of bill added to chuncky aspect which gives this bird its unique shape. The mixture of retained juvenile feathers and the new pale grey adult-like coverts indicate 1st winter plumage. 
Falaropo de Wilson Phalaropus tricolor. Zeluán, Avilés, Asturies, 16.9.2001 (© Daniel López)  Fijaos en el color de las partes no plumadas, y la longitud del pico que añadida al aspecto rechoncho del ave da a esta especie su aspecto característico. La mezcla de plumas juveniles retenidas y de adulto nuevas y de color gris pálido indica que se trata de un primer invierno.
Escuraflascons de Wilson Phalaropus tricolor. Zeluán, Avilés, Asturies, 16.9.2001 (© Daniel López). Fixeu-vos en el color de les parts no plomades i en la llargària del bec que, afegida a l'aspecte rabassut de l'ocell li dona a aquesta espècie el seu aspecter característic. La barreja de plomes juvenils retingudes i les d'adult, noves de color gris pàlid, indica que aquest animal és un primer hivern.

Buy optics online from www.weboryx.com Leica Apo Televid 62 for 1107 euros. These images have been obtained with a digital camera manually attached to a Leica Apo Televid telescope.  supports the www.rarebirdspain.net website helping us with the dominium and web mainteinance. Mail to oryx@weboryx.com

Summary:
Introduction
Photographs
Acknowledgements