Records

S. Gloucestershire from Tog Hill - November 2005

THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

POMARINE SKUA – Stercorarius pomarinus

As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

Pomarine Skua's relationships are not fully resolved; its mitochondrial DNA is most similar to that of Great Skua but from a morphological and behavioural perspective it is closer to Arctic Skua. The most likely explanation is extensive hybridization between the Greater and Lesser Skua's which resulted in a hybrid population that eventually evolved into a distinct species, the Pomarine Skua; or alternatively between the Pomarine and one of the southern hemisphere Skua, with the Great Skua being the hybrid offspring and perhaps appearing as recently as the 15th century. The term 'pomato-rhinos' refers to 'lid-nosed', (the lid is the rim which develops over the base of the bill in summer) and has been corrupted to the present day Pomarine.

There have been around a hundred and thirty Pomarine Skua's seen in S. Gloucestershire, they are;

1879: (1)

One was 'obtained' sometime in November at New Passage.

1887: (1)

Sometime in December one was picked up dead near Hawksbury Upton.

1983: (3)

Single birds, both dark morph, were seen off New Passage on October 16th and 17th. Observers noted they appeared less bulky and slightly smaller than Great Skua, having a black rather than brown head, neck and breast; and more 'barrel-chested than Arctic Skua. They also showed only a small white patch at the base of the primaries, with white feathers shafts radiating from it.

1986: (2)

A 1st winter was seen on January 19th off New Passage; One seen on May 25th off New Passage was still present on May 26th.

1987: (3)

Two on June 6th off New Passage were both light morph were seen heading north-east; One light morph on October 16th off New Passage was watched heading south-west.

1988: (3)

A light morph was found on September 28th off New Passage; One was noted on October 6th off New Passage; One was present at New Passage on October 8th.

1989: (2)

On May 21st a single bird was seen off New Passage; On December 24th one was watched at Aust Warth.

1990: (4)

One seen on February 12th off Aust Warth was subsequently seen at both New Passage and Severn Beach; Three on April 15th off New Passage were in two passes, one early in the day and two at mid-day.

1991: (4)

A light morph was noted off New Passage on April 5th; Three, including two 'light phase' were found on April 27th off New Passage.

1992: (1)

A light morph was seen heading north-east on May 8th off New Passage.

1994: (1)

A light morph sub-adult was seen on the water and was then seen in flight heading south-west on August 20th off New Passage.

1996: (23)

A total of eighteen birds were observed on May 2nd off Severn Beach, fifteen mostly light morph at 08:45 plus three light morph at 18:45, two lingered into May 3rd one of which was a light morph; One light morph was seen on June 3rd off Severn Beach; One light morph was seen on June 6th off Severn Beach; Two on November 3rd at Severn Beach consisted of a dark morph juvenile and a light morph adult; One light morph adult was noted on November 6th off Severn Beach.

1997: (2)

On April 23rd a light morph was seen off Severn Beach; On October 9th a light morph summer adult was seen off Severn Beach.

1998: (2)

On January 4th a 1st winter was seen heading inland at Severn Beach; One seen on April 4th off Severn Beach was an adult.

2000: (2)

A 1st summer was seen on May 27th off Severn Beach; A dark morph was seen on September 6th off Severn Beach.

2001: (1)

One, an adult was observed on April 22nd off Severn Beach.

2004: (54)

Three with full spoons were seen on April 4th off Severn Beach; There were nine on April 19th off Severn Beach; Three pale morph birds flew up river off Severn Beach on April 30th; One was seen on May 3rd off Severn Beach; Thirty-six were present on May 4th off Severn Beach; One was seen off Severn Beach on September 20th.

2005: (3)

One was seen off Severn Beach on May 7th; An adult pale morph was watched on October 25th off Severn Beach; A juvenile was seen on November 4th off Severn Beach.

2006: (3)

Two adults flew north-east past Severn Beach at 10:05 on May 1st; On December 7th a pale morph was lingering off Severn Beach between 08:00 and 10:10.

2007: (14)

On May 6th a pale morph adult with full spoons was seen off Severn Beach mid morning before departing south-west; Nine, including one dark morph were seen for most of the day off Severn Beach on May 8th ; On May 10th a pale morph was seen from Severn Beach late morning and possibly the same bird flew north-east past Severn Beach at 09:20 on May 11th; On May 19th a pale morph was seen off Severn Beach in the morning; On June 3rd a sub adult dark morph was seen off Severn Beach at 09:35 and it or another was noted later in the day flying north; An adult light morph with full 'spoons' lingered off New Passage at 13:15 on November 8th.