North Sea Shearwater/Skua? (1 Viewer)

[Gander]

I saw a couple of dark brown birds sitting in amongst a flock of GBBGs, this morning. I assumed they would be Great Skua, as we have had a few about. Now looking at the photos, I'm not so sure. Beak looks slim, chests appear pale.

Any thoughts?

 

[Periwinkle]

Look like Sooty Shearwater to me.

 

[Gander]

Another photo, to assist.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello, both look like Balearic or Yelkuan Shearwater to me, just by paler front (face and breast). I hope for others to jump in.

 

[Ratal]

Deffo Shearwaters. Nice catch!

 

[THE_FERN]

Hello, both look like Balearic or Yelkuan Shearwater to me, just by paler front (face and breast). I hope for others to jump in.

Agree with this. Presume Balearic with the overall sootiness.

[Yelkouan would be a major rarity afaik]

 

[tonyfenn]

Location might help, I know you said north sea but that's a large area

 

[Gander]

Location might help, I know you said north sea but that's a large area

I'm approx 124 miles SE of Sumburgh or 117 miles NE of Aberdeen.

58 22 11 N
00 04 25 E

 

[Butty]

Goodness, you do deserve some light relief

 

[Periwinkle]

Be aware Balearic Shearwater is extremely rare that far north (i think one record for Shetland for example). I would still tend to go for Sooty with the pale areas a lighting effect. There have also been large numbers of Sooty recently nearby . However i don't think you can be entirely sure on those pics.

 

[Periwinkle]

You can also see funny lighting effects with on the fronts of the gulls in the pics.

 

[Butty]

On plumage - lighting or no - I don't see how these could be sooty shearwater. If I believe Collins/Svensson, they look just fine for Balearic shearwater.

 

[Gander]

Be aware Balearic Shearwater is extremely rare that far north (i think one record for Shetland for example). I would still tend to go for Sooty with the pale areas a lighting effect. There have also been large numbers of Sooty recently nearby . However i don't think you can be entirely sure on those pics.

On plumage - lighting or no - I don't see how these could be sooty shearwater. If I believe Collins/Svensson, they look just fine for Balearic shearwater.

I should probably explain that I am on an offshore oil platform. A few years ago, I had a Shearwater at close quarters that I am 100% sure was a Balearic, although it was not accepted by the NSBC rare birds committee on description only.

 

[kb57]

I've no experience of either species seen resting on the sea, but if we consider structure when in flight, both species are relatively short-tailed, but Balearic is much shorter-winged than Sooty, even taking into account shorter body length.

Howell & Zufelt have photos of both species on the sea, and this difference in relative dimensions seems apparent in that Balearic wing primaries don't extend much or at all beyond the tail, whereas Sooty wings extend well beyond. To me the second picture in particular seems to show more of a Balearic wing length in the resting birds.

If the pale areas are not a lighting effect (were they visible through optics, as well as in the photos?) this obviously strongly supports Balearic too. The only other species to rule out is then short-tailed , recorded off Brittany with Balearic shearwaters and washed up on a beach in Ireland in recent years!