07.10-10.00 from the fishing boats:
Brent Goose: 11 down 2 up
Shelduck: 5 down
Shoveler: 1 down
Wigeon: 11 down
Pochard: 5 down
Common Scoter: 30 up 2 down
Great-crested Grebe: 1 on
Gannet: 192 down 596 up
Cormorant: 27 around
Merlin: 2 around
Turnstone: 1 around
Dunlin: 41 down
Curlew: 1 down
Great Skua: 1 down
Arctic Skua: 1 down
Mediterranean Gull: 102 down
Little Gull: 1 down
Kittiwake: 15 down
Sandwich Tern: 7 down
Razorbill: 28 down
Auk sp: 7 down
Swallow: 5 out
Wheatear: 1 around
Starling: 6 in
Harbour Porpoise: 2
During the same period behind the fishing boats Steve G & Mark H logged 6,000+ Goldfinches along with many Linnets, Redpolls and Siskins and a single Hawfinch.
As I lost my mobile phone yesterday by stupidly leaving it on the roof my car and driving off, I spent a few hours today trying to sort out a replacement. Its pathetic that I should feel almost bereft without it, hopefully a replacement will arrive soon.
Eider at the fishing boats this afternoon
1 of 1,000+ Gannets past the fishing boats today
Arctic Skua at the fishing boats
14.45-16.45 from the fishing boats:Brent Goose: 41 down
Teal: 1 up
Common Scoter: 9 up 7 down
Eider: 1 drake on sea
Great-crested Grebe: 2 around
Gannet: 306 down
Turnstone: 2 around
Arctic Skua: 2 down + the usual juvenile
Mediterranean Gull: 8 down
Kittiwake: 19 down
Sandwich Tern: 35 down
Common Tern: 1 down
Guillemot: 3 down
Razorbill: 33 down
Auk sp: 9 down
Harbour Porpoise: 2
Grey Seal: 1
Its not always easy and it would be good to see a few more photos of the bird - but your 'arctic' Skua looks more like a dark form juv Long-tailed Skua to me. checkout the head and bill shape - Arctic are nearly always triangular in head and bill shape with a sloping forehead leading into a longer (common Gull like) bill. the black should be more extensive on Arctic too. the white in the primary shafts is limited and more telling the centre tail extensions are rounded not pointed as in Arctic. very dark forms of juv L-t Skua are not very common and most show better barring on the rump but some like this don't! Even a darker jux Arctic skua would show a more rufous dark brown on the nape rather than this chocolate brown. the slightly paler tips to the wing coverts are also quite good on even dark juv l-t Skuas. Surprisingly Pom Skua (if size cannot be judged) are often more of a confusion with juv L-t Skua, the colours are similar as are many plumage features.
ReplyDeleteHope that helps
Mike
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ReplyDeleteI am often confused by non adult summer Skuas. Please look here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=331550
ReplyDeleteHi Robin, I've made a reply on Bird Forum http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=331550
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