THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
LONG-TAILED SKUA – Stercorarius longicaudus
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
Long-tailed Skua is the smallest of the Skua's at about 38cm in length excluding the elongated central tail feathers of the summer adult which can add another 20cm or so. On passage juvenile birds sometimes hunt small prey in ploughed fields or golf-courses and are typically quite fearless of humans. The word Skua is derived from the New Latin alteration of Faroese 'skuvur' and from the Old Norse 'skufr', tassel (a reference to the tail streamers), seagull.
There have been six Long-tailed Skua reported from S. Gloucestershire, they are;
1981: (1)
A juvenile was located on October 4th off New Passage.
1983: (1)
On September 3rd one was seen off New Passage.
1988: (1)
On September 26th one was observed off Severn Beach, it then flew north-east to New Passage then heading south-west.
1990: (1)
An adult was seen on September 20th off New Passage.
1991: (1)
An adult was watched on May 5th off New Passage in flight heading north-east.
1994: (1)
An adult was seen on November 25th at New Passage, again at New Passage on November 26th and at Severn Beach on November 27th.
Long-tailed Skua at Severn Beach. November 1994. © Left and centre Paul Bowerman, right Rich Andrews.