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New Zealand - Milford Sound: Arctic Skua? Shearwater? (1 Viewer)

A

Anton-Jan

Active member
Hi there, today during the wonderful Milford Sound cruise I made some pictures of these birds.. couldn't clearly identify them. Can you help me?

Last 3 pictures are the same bird.

Thanks in advance
 

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Haven't got my reference books to hand, but the last 3 are of one of the 'Great skua' group, .....a South Polar skua? First two look like shearwaters to me, possibly Huttons or Fluttering, but getting a positive ID on these I found hard even with excellent views!

You need one of our Antipodean pelagic experts here!

Great place to go birding though - we walked the Milford trail and then had a boat trip around the sound. One of my 'lifetime memories' for sure. Only the boat trip off Kaikoura was better.
 
The Skua is Arctic in my opinion. Bill and body are much too thin for one of the big species.
I don't know much about the Shearwaters around NZ, but Fluttering or Hutton's seem like good fits

Maffong
 
Fluttering Shearwater is by far the commonest species and it looks like one. Arctic Skua is also the default species and also looks good IMO
 
Thanks for your replies, have been without Wi-Fi since, explains the late reaction.. New Zealand is a nice place to see special birds :)
 
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