ML31619801

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Discovered approximately 8 miles east of Chatham Harbor. Seen (at a distance of perhaps 200 yards) in direct comparison with a dozen or so Common Terns that were providing some harassment. Settled on the water briefly as the terns continued to pound away and eventually lifted off and flew away from us to the southwest where it harassed a few resting flocks of storm-petrels and shearwaters. Several marginal photos were obtained. Impression was of a smallish looking Skua - probably not much bigger than a large POJA (compared to COTEs), uniform in color, and a paler smallish head compared to the rest of the body. One of the flight photos below shows a raised wing in apparent early stages of primary molt which in combination of the fresh plumage tones likely indicates a 1cycle SPSK given the date. Striking white crescent flashes on upperwing and underwing conspicuous.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/5.6L USM

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

1315 pixels x 876 pixels

Original file size

128.29 KB