ML646669981

Observation details

**very rare, with only five records accepted by MARC, presumably even more so post bird flu crash (with a 76% drop in the UK breeding population and steep declines in observations of migrating birds). Unfortunately a rather brief experience as the bird made one quick pass behind the boat while we were watching fulmars around the dead minke, and kept going without slowing. We gave chase but never came close to catching up to it. Initial review of under-exposed photos seemed to indicate a very late SPSK, but after editing photos, it became apparent that it was a GRSK. A 2nd or 3rd cycle bird, with heavy golden flecking through the back and scapulars (beyond the pale streaking that worn SPSK can show), a dark capped appearance with the dark coming from the bill to below the eye and extending up over the top of the head. The neck and nape are rather plain, but that is typical of this age GRSK. It appears to be in active wing molt with p1-7 new, p8 missing or quite small, and p9-10 old (as shown here). The first 3 secondaries are new and the next few are dropped. A very similar bird was just photographed off southern Spain ML646523697.