The name Skua comes from Faroese 'skúgvur' and the island of
Skúvoy which is renown for its colonies. Jaeger, the
American term, is derived from the German word 'Jäger',
meaning hunter. Skua's are far from straight forward and at
times defy identification, those listed below were probably
noted at a distance and in poor weather conditions.
There have been around twenty unidentified Skua's reported
from S. Gloucestershire;
2011: (7)
A
small Skua species was noted off Severn Beach at 14:00 on
September 7th; Six 'small' Skua's were noted distantly from
New Passage on September 16th in flight low down river at
14:35 before gaining height and flying towards the Gwent end
of the Second Severn crossing.
2010: (1)
One possibly Long-tailed was seen off Severn Beach on
September 14th.
2009: (2)
Two (one light and one dark morph) were noted at long range
off Severn Beach on May 9th and were either Pomarine or
Arctic Skua's.
2003: (1)
One was watched on May 13th off Severn Beach.
2001: (3)
Three were present on April 5th off Severn Beach.
1999: (2)
One was reported on April 24th off Severn Beach; One was
seen on November 28th off Severn Beach.
1998: (1)
One was seen on January 3rd off Severn Beach.
1996: (1)
One was present on November 6th off Severn Beach.
1992: (4)
One was noted on May 8th off New Passage; One was present on
May 14th off New Passage; Two were seen on August 12th off
New Passage.
1990: (2)
One was seen on June 22nd off New Passage; One was present
on October 30th off New Passage.
1989: (1)
One was seen on October 29th off New Passage.
1988: (2)
One was seen on February 9th off New Passage; One was noted
on July 28th off New Passage.
1986: (1)
One was present on January 19th off Aust Warth.