Skuas, Norfolk (1 Viewer)

[JamesA]

Hi all,

These were off the north Norfolk coast last weekend. There were around 4 skuas present, and I shot these bursts after I realised how much I know about skua ID - precisely bugger all.

I have my thoughts as to their IDs but it would be good to get some thoughts from people more experienced than me.

The three pages here are each multiple images of one bird. All images are at 100% and haven't been enhanced in any way.

Many thanks.

 

[midlands birder]

I thought Pom skua
But i am terrible at skuas and like you, know very little, guesses really!
MB

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The second and I think the third bird show pointed central tail feathers, which would suggest Arctic Skua. The first might be one of those too, although I'm a bit less confident. Small skuas often tend to be Arctics though, I find.

 

[JamesA]

Any more opinions?

 

[RE Birder]

The first set look good for Pom. The next 2 Arctic.

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Pom Skua for the first and Arctic Skua for the other two.

CB

 

[mäkpe]

Can't see central tf:s, but first bird looks chesty and not pot-bellied so Arctic for me.

Second one isn't possible id with any certainty imo, but if central tf:s are as long and pointed as it looks like then it's Arctic(/Long-tailed).

Third one has more pot-bellied appereance than first one IMO, but maybe not enough for Pom. Central tf:s looks rather rounded in first image but more pointed in others. I can't really decide but if i have to, i'd say Arctic.

 

[chris butterworth]

I think they are all Arctics. The heavier birds are just well fed - which can make them look more like Poms.

Chris

 

[RE Birder]

1st one still Pom for me especially in the upper 2 pics

 

[Paul Woolnough]

I think the first one is a pom, first place I looked at was the back end. Would not be keen to call it as a pom as it flew by though.

The other two are Arctics. A variable species.

Most small skuas are Arctics with a description needed to county recorder for long-tailed skua.

 

[JamesA]

Thanks all. I was pretty sure on the second two being arctics, less so with the first one as pomarine.

 

[smiths]

Can those who regard the first bird as a Pomarine Skua explain their reasons ?

Do juvenile Pomarine Skuas even get this pale, whitish ?
Also, the rear end of this bird looks quite slim and tapered - as in Arctic Skua.

 

[Paul Woolnough]

Pom?

I think the first one is a pom, first place I looked at was the back end. Would not be keen to call it as a pom as it flew by though.

Can those who regard the first bird as a Pomarine Skua explain their reasons ?

The tail projection on the first two pictures in the top row of the first bird. Cannot see spoons though.

 

[Jane Turner]

Here are a selection of Poms

 

[smiths]

Can those who regard the first bird as a Pomarine Skua explain their reasons ?

The tail projection on the first two pictures in the top row of the first bird. Cannot see spoons though.

I am not sure what you mean with "tail projection" here. If you are referring to elongated central tail feathers, that cannot be the case here. The bird is a juvenile (because it completely lacks a dark cap above the eye), so there should be no strongly elongated tail feathers and certainly no spoons (as shown in Jane's photo composite, and as illustrated by the other photos of bird 1).
What we are seeing in the first two pictures in the top row is simply a narrow tail sticking out quite a long way past the wings - as expected in Arctic Skua.