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Arctic Skua


Arctic Skua
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1205 W: 0 N: 4610] (13714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 USM IS
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-20 8:40
Viewed: 555
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot on my trip to Spitzbergen with my 300mm + 1.4x converter.

The Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus, known as the Parasitic Jaeger in North America, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae.

This species breeds in the north of Eurasia and North America, with significant populations as far south as northern Scotland. It nests on dry tundra, higher fells and islands, laying up to four olive-brown eggs. It is usually silent except for newing and wailing notes while on the breeding grounds. Like other skuas, it will fly at the head of a human or fox approaching its nest. Although it cannot inflict serious damage, it is a frightening and painful experience. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropics and southern oceans.

In the British Isles, they breed in Shetland and Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Sutherland, Caithness, and some islands in Argyll.

This bird will feed on lemmings and other rodents on the breeding grounds, but also robs gulls and terns of their catches. Like the larger skua species, it continues this piratical behaviour throughout the year, showing great agility as it harasses its victims.

Identification of this skua is complicated by its similarities to Long-tailed Skua and Pomarine Skua, and the existence of three colour phases. This is one of the smaller skuas at about 41 cm length, excluding the pointed central tail feathers of the summer adult, which can add another 7 cm or so. Light phase adults have a brown back, mainly white underparts and dark primary wing feathers with a white "flash". The head and neck are yellowish-white with a black cap and there is a pointed central tail projection. Dark phase adults are dark brown, and intermediate phase birds are dark with somewhat paler underparts, head and neck. All phases have the white wing flash.

Juveniles are even more problematic, and are difficult to separate from Long-tailed Skua over the sea. They are bulkier, shorter-winged and less tern-like than that species, but show the same wide range of plumage variation. The flight is more falcon-like. However, they are usually warmer toned than Long-tailed, with browner shades, rather than grey.
vanderschelden, elefantino, XOTAELE, nglen, pekkavalo1, rousettus, boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, eqshannon, Gert-Paassen, JPlumb, SelenE, uleko, eng55, claudine, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi James,

Great shot of this Arctict Skua!
Good exposure and amazing sharp details in the feathers.
Brilliant BG and composition.

Very well done,

Danny

Very good background and perch, James.
Well composed.
TFS
Annick

Fantastic bird!
I've never seen one before...
...and nice shot too!

Andrea

Hola James.
Buena captura, bella definición y acertada presentación.
Buen comentario.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 132 N: 7075] (22101)
  • [2008-05-20 9:33]

Hello James,
A superb capture of the light-phase Arctic Skua.
I like the pose against the natural OOF BG and the composition on the lichen-covered rock.
TFS this delightful image,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1128 W: 254 N: 2428] (11041)
  • [2008-05-20 11:15]

Hi James,

A nice catch of a bird not that often seen at TN,the colors ,pov and BG are great,in end of august I will go as well on a trip to svalbard (spitzbergen),so I hope I can as well show some pictures from the north in due time,if you have some advices about this trip they are most welcome,I guess we are quite prepared,but some maybe forgotten tips are always welcome,

Regards,
Paul

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1895 W: 4 N: 5148] (19630)
  • [2008-05-20 13:30]

Hi James. This looks a well feed bird . Not one i have seen again so i am learning every day. You have captured good detail and natural colours. A nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi James,

Never seen but very high on my list to capture. Very good pose and composition, sharp details, good BG and nice colours.

TFS

Pekka

Hello James
today, your post from the north. great capture for Arctic Skua. Skuas not common here, as I remember. Eposure great as like focus, POV, composition. thanks. best wishes
Ahmet

You should be president of some university. I saw a short blurb on Tv about the first woman President of Harvard...credentials? Well...she was a woman I guess....Not sure although she tried to demure from the questions and went totally in the other direction...
What I am trying to say I reckon...is that we, as TN'ers and readers of such are very gifted by your talents/travels/photos and information. In a new world of electronics you are are the edge of a "BRAVE" New World! Keep on teaching...I love it...every minute!
Bob

Hi James,


A nice capture of the light-phase Arctic Skua.
beautiful bird dat i have never been seen.
Good note too.

Gert

Hi James, I've heard of the Arctic Skua, but I don't remember ever seeing one, or a shot of one, so thanks for the introduction here. Nice detail seen on the bird, and on that rock with those multi-coloured lichens.

Thanks, John

Hi James,
Superb shot of this beauty my friend! Excellent DOF and POV! Great composition. TFS. Cheers,
Bayram

Hi James

Great shot. We get these off the Australian coast in our summer, but they rarely come to land, spending all their time at sea. Ours migrate from Siberia. I don't think I've ever seen their legs before.

Good sharpness and composition.

Chris

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2304 W: 59 N: 3674] (11774)
  • [2008-05-21 4:33]

Hi James,
Background, composition, color tones, lighting and POV look very good. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen

hello James

excellent image of the Arctic Skua, with fine POV, DOF and framing,
excellent sharpness and details of the bird and the foreground, TFS

Asbed

Very fine capture, James!
Perfect details!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2369 W: 164 N: 7114] (22494)
  • [2008-05-21 8:01]

Hello James,
What a superb shot of this Arctic Skua. It is such a beautiful bird and not often seen portrayed. Very sharp details and I love the beautiful background that makes it stand out.
Lovely!
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello James,
Very beautiful photo with a lovely BG and excellent POV and sharpness.
Regards,
Peter

great skua, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 24 N: 4870] (15888)
  • [2008-05-22 8:38]

Hi James,
Wonderful shot of this beautiful Skua with amazing colours and details on its plumage. Nice elegant pose captured. Superb lighting and exposure with the BG looking so special. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-22 21:38]

Hello James

The focus is very good with excellent pov and dof.
Wonderful sharp details.
The subject stands out well against the lovely OOF BG.
Excellent lighting and colours.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 3 N: 375] (1121)
  • [2008-05-24 3:28]

Hi James,
Beautiful capture of this artic skua.Bluured BG,POV,pose bird and composition are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 104 N: 4589] (20415)
  • [2008-05-24 7:28]

Hello James, nice subject, good pose and well composed. The background is perfect and the colors are great, well done my friend!

Mario

Hi James,
This is a nice bird that I think I see for the first time. I like it colors and this is a very nice capture with great catch-light, details, composition and beautiful background. Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 522 W: 87 N: 693] (5737)
  • [2008-05-25 13:21]

hi James,
fine image de cet oiseau arctic. J'aime les couleurs sombres et denses associé au BG coloré.

gl

The bird Arctic Skua is new for me, James.
This is a strikingly beautiful bird and you have captured it well by using tele-converter on your 300mm. The image is very sharp.
We are looking forward to your new pictures from Canada.
Hope you are keeping well.
Regards.
Ram

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