Arctic Skua (Parasitic Jaegar) Stercorarius parasiticus

In Norfolk by far the commonest of the smaller skuas, and the one present for the longest time. Although spring records are decidedly scarce small numbers begin to linger offshore from summer onwards before the larger counts of birds passing during the autumn.

Despite being common I've only managed distant shots so far - all of the following are heavily cropped so no larger version is available.

Arctic Skua, Pendeen (Cornwall, UK), 6th October 2010

 

Arctic Skua, Pendeen (Cornwall, UK), 6th October 2010 - in the photos this looks a bit Pom-ish with the impression of a spoon-shaped tail for example, but this wasn't noticed in the field either by me or the many other observers present, so I think it's just a trick of the photo

 

Arctic Skua, Pendeen (Cornwall, UK), 6th October 2010

 

Arctic Skua, Pendeen (Cornwall, UK), 6th October 2010

 
 

Arctic Skua, Pendeen (Cornwall, UK), 6th October 2010

 

Arctic Skua(s), Chapel Point (Lincolnshire, UK), 23rd August 2008

 

Arctic Skua, Sheringham (Norfolk, UK), 13th September 2009

 

Arctic Skua, Sheringham (Norfolk, UK), 25th September 2010