BIRDING

 

 

SOUTH

 

 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCTIC SKUA

Stercorarius parasiticus

 


 

Arctic Skua | Mark Coller

 

 

  M A M J J A S O N D

 

RECORDS

 

The first documented reference to Arctic Skua in South Gloucestershire was in 1941 when a dark morph individual was seen in flight from Littleton-upon-Severn on June 1st. That was followed by a dark morph noted from Severn Beach on October 15th 1942. The next was a distant 'Skua Spp', almost certainly this species, seen on the R. Severn from Aust on August 31st 1960. A seven year hiatus ensued before the next with one seen from New Passage on October 29th 1967 and that was followed by a five year gap before a corpse was found at Severn Beach on May 28th 1972.

 

Since 1972 Arctic Skua have been seen in almost every subsequent year and in increasing numbers and they have been recorded in all months except January and February.

 

The earliest date is March 13th 2021 when an intermediated morph was spotted from Shepperdine, the latest date is December 25th 1997 when an individual was noted from Severn Beach and the highest count is a very impressive ≥120 off Severn Beach on April 13th 1998.

 


 

 

 

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