Posted by Barry Southon on April 14, 2013 at 2:51 PM
A first encounter for me on the South Coast, more than our share of gulls. Low water and on the tide line in the distance a dark bird not one of many Cormorants its gull shaped. First thoughts is it a casualty covered in oil?
It allowed me to get faily close and it didn't flinch or make a sound, I wasn't sure of it's ID either. So I took a few record shots.
Canon 1DX Canon EF 70mm-200mmf/2.8 IS USM. 1/1000 sec @f/5.6 ISO400
Hand Held RAW to Lightroom then resized for web PS CS5. Handheld.
I know its large in frame but that's what I wanted.
Critique, Comments, Advice most welcomed and thanks for looking.
Bill doesn't quite look heavy enough for a Bonzie/Great skua, and it doesn't have the "mean looking" jiz but it may be the angle of shot, also I'm not sure that the streaked head is quite right for a Bonxie although it is dark legged
The "kind look" jiz is more reminiscent of an Arctic/Parasitic skua, but subject size is difficult to gauge here.
Your view point is a bit high, and you will kick yourself as these encounter opportunities are few and far between!
Posted by Barry Southon on April 14, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Mike
UK Rye East Sussex. A rare sighting I'm told in this location although they have been seen in flight at sea.
I took a few shots almost kneeling but I just didn't want to spook it. I do have a couple of images with wings extended markings appear to be Great Skua but I'm no expert.
Posted by Neil Burton on April 15, 2013 at 4:28 AM
Agree about the angle but no idea what it is or is not. Nice to have one in the UK I guess.
Nice but with a very low angle it could be stunning.
However I have a feeling this just might be something very special as it look a bit danty for a great skua. If I were you I would recount the story and post the picture in the ID thread at birdform.net. Your description of its location and tameness make me wonder if it could be a brown or south polar skua both serious mega rarities. Pretty sure it is not an arctic.
I am probably wrong but it would be good to find out from the real seabird experts just in case
Changed my mind on Arctic, it is a great skua type of some sort, behaviour and jiz isn't quite right for a British bonxie
Posted by Barry Southon on April 15, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Thank you guys for your comments all I knew was that I'd never seen one of these previously. I attempted to get as low as I could which wasn't enough another lesson dress for the task. It's invoked local interest too as a first photographed in Sussex, as I mentioned they have been spotted off shore. I read that the North of Scotland is the usual territory for the species.
Well there you go a dark object on the beach becomes a mystery I live and learn each day this bird seemed strange from first sight. I was struggling ticking all the boxes with the ID but that's no rare occurrence the transition stages add to the complexities of identity for me. I tend to take the local regular species for granted which is probably wrong.
I'll run the ID question as Ian suggested we are just off to the USA tomorrow so I'll keep you posted.
Posted by Bob Johnson on April 17, 2013 at 8:06 AM
Interesting shot Barry but I have no idea what it is. What I do know is that after a couple of quick record shots I would have got my face in the mud to get a lower POV
Bob
Posted by Nick Mckeown on April 17, 2013 at 3:16 PM
It seems to fit Great Skua in bill colour, markings are always variable in birds but you just never know what might turn up. It would be worth some expert eyes looking at it.
Enjoy the US of A.
Nick.
Posted by Barry Southon on April 18, 2013 at 9:31 AM
I ran it past a knowledgable RSPB author locally and he instantly ID the bird as a Great Skua for me.
The Low point of view point I accept and clearly my assumed knees bent squat wasn't sufficient. As I mentioned I wasn't dressed for a roll in the wet sand. Seems to be a confirmed rarity around the south coast.
Thanks again for your comments.
Posted by David Taylor on April 19, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Discussion
10 repliesIt allowed me to get faily close and it didn't flinch or make a sound, I wasn't sure of it's ID either. So I took a few record shots.
Canon 1DX Canon EF 70mm-200mmf/2.8 IS USM. 1/1000 sec @f/5.6 ISO400
Hand Held RAW to Lightroom then resized for web PS CS5. Handheld.
I know its large in frame but that's what I wanted.
Critique, Comments, Advice most welcomed and thanks for looking.
Its not oiled, but as identified a skua sp.
Bill doesn't quite look heavy enough for a Bonzie/Great skua, and it doesn't have the "mean looking" jiz but it may be the angle of shot, also I'm not sure that the streaked head is quite right for a Bonxie although it is dark legged
The "kind look" jiz is more reminiscent of an Arctic/Parasitic skua, but subject size is difficult to gauge here.
Your view point is a bit high, and you will kick yourself as these encounter opportunities are few and far between!
UK Rye East Sussex. A rare sighting I'm told in this location although they have been seen in flight at sea.
I took a few shots almost kneeling but I just didn't want to spook it. I do have a couple of images with wings extended markings appear to be Great Skua but I'm no expert.
However I have a feeling this just might be something very special as it look a bit danty for a great skua. If I were you I would recount the story and post the picture in the ID thread at birdform.net. Your description of its location and tameness make me wonder if it could be a brown or south polar skua both serious mega rarities. Pretty sure it is not an arctic.
I am probably wrong but it would be good to find out from the real seabird experts just in case
Ian
Well there you go a dark object on the beach becomes a mystery I live and learn each day this bird seemed strange from first sight. I was struggling ticking all the boxes with the ID but that's no rare occurrence the transition stages add to the complexities of identity for me. I tend to take the local regular species for granted which is probably wrong.
I'll run the ID question as Ian suggested we are just off to the USA tomorrow so I'll keep you posted.
Bob
Enjoy the US of A.
Nick.
The Low point of view point I accept and clearly my assumed knees bent squat wasn't sufficient. As I mentioned I wasn't dressed for a roll in the wet sand. Seems to be a confirmed rarity around the south coast.
Thanks again for your comments.