Late Arctic Skua

[simon.fordham]

On the way to Tiritiri Matangi Island on Thursday, JP Mower and I observed an Arctic skua flying alongside the ferry. There may have been a second bird in the vicinity as well. This is later than the November to April range indicated on NZ Birds online.

[Mike Bickerdike]

Interesting - I’m not sure how accurate that yearly range is - I saw two quite clearly only yesterday (through scope) from the cliffs at Glover Park, St Heliers. They were harrying silver gulls and white-fronted tern out in the harbour passage between Auckland and Rangitoto. Checking eBird I see it shows multiple records of them in May.

[Colin Miskelly]

Thanks guys,

Author Michael Szabo will likely have got the November to April date range from sources he cited, including HANZAB and the Heather & Robertson field guide.

I have updated the text to 'November to May', though I must check my own records, as I suspect that I have seen them often in late October.

Nga mihi,
Colin

[Mike Bickerdike]

eBird records in the last 10 years show the following number of observations of the sp. in the Hauraki Gulf:

0 in August
5 in October
30+ in November through March
20+ in April
8 in May
0 in June

So, October and May are not bereft of observations but they are on the edges of the range.

[Mike Bickerdike]

Observations of an arctic skua in Auckland waters in June now, photos on eBird.