South Polar Skua

Stercorariidae: Skuas

South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki (0, 2)

STATUS: Extremely rare. BBRC.

1). 2001 Gugh Bar, St Agnes and St Mary's, picked-up, 7th October to 14th January 2002, taken into care on St Mary’s, photo.

(M. S. Scott, Birding World 15 (9): 383-386, plates 1-4; Birding World 15 (12): 515, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 538; Birding World 20 (8): 333, plate 18; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 65; S. C. Votier et al., Ibis 149: 619-621; D. Newell, British Birds 101: 439-441; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 592; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 589).

2). 2023 Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, c. 10 km S of St Mary's, 31st July, photo.

(British Birds 116: plate 316; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2023: photo; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 693).

P). 2023 Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 5 km SW of Bishop Rock, 25th August, photo.

(BBRC - Web-WIP-11-3-24; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2023: photo).

P). 2023 Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 10 km N of St Martin’s, 29th September, photo.

(birding information services).

P). 2024 Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, juvenile, 5th July.

(birding information services).

P). 2024 Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, SE of St Mary’s, 16th August, photo.

(birding information services).