Skua Ident Please.

[Firstlight]

A few posts ago, I asked a question regarding key features to note when seeing an "odd" bird, the replies were a bit vague in most cases, so here is an example of a bird a "skua".
First, there is the "poor" image, but it is alongside another known species of bird ie we have some sort of scale.from the image I think the bird is about 39cm long and about 100cm wing span.(arctic or long tailed)
2.The bill is slenderish, and legs and bill are a slate ish blue.
3.Gull like in appearance, but very manoeuverable and fast flying and slender ish wings.
4.Body colour is ginger and very dark brown, with very visible "white" at joint ends of primaries.
5.There is a small projection from centre of tail.
The above were from notes made at the time, to supplement the image.
From the above I concluded that it was a Artic/Parasitic Skua, but a birder friend has cast doubt over recognition and believes it to be a L.T.Skua.
Since I am more bird Snapper than Watcher you help would be appreciated.
There is a close up of the bird in my gallery and if all goes well there should be an in flight with Sandwich tern attached.
regards David.

[Graham Etherington]

I'd say this is a fairly standard juvenile Arctic Skua. As well as not chasing terns for food, Long-tailed Skuas would not normally have so much white in the wing. Amongst other features, the bird is not bulky enough to be a Pom.

[Brian S]

Hi Graham

I'm not sure I can 100% support this as Arctic. There isn't a lot to go to help with the ID, but to my eyes the white at the base of the primaries, especially on the wing catching the light, is within the range for Long-tailed. On Arctic, I often think that the underside of the primaries (especially inner) on juvs seem half white/half dark; whilst on L-tS it seems to be much more restricted - about a quarter or less.

Structurally, it could be argued this seems quite slim, but maybe I am clutching at straws to support my view.

Brian S

[Colin Key]

From the close-up shot of the same (?) bird in your gallery I would say that the bill shape (long and slender) alone makes this Arctic rather than Long-tailed.

Colin

[Brian S]

I wasn't aware of another picture. If the standing bird is the same bird, I would agree with Colin - note also the small white tips on the primaries.

I knew it was a mistake questioning Graham....

Brian S

[Firstlight]

Thanks guys,
You have redeemed my faith in myself.
There is a 12 shot sequence of the Skua shaking down the tern and itself being stalked by a Herring Gull which I thought was going to kill it, eventually the Skua escaped from the Gull and took out its fury on the tern, which to gain speed and also to escape, regurgitated a fish, which was the reason for the attack in the first place.
Yes the bird in my gallery is the same bird.
regards David.

[Christian Brinkman]

I was always told that rounded middle tail feathers is a feature only Long-tailed has, and that pointy middle tail feathers points towards Arctic. Or is this feature only shared by 'fresh' juveniles and is this an older bird?

[macrourus]

where is your gallery where we may see other pics??
________
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[Jurij Hanžel]

The image of the standing bird can be found HERE (http://surfbirds.com/albums/data/500/ARCTICSKUA1.jpg)

[Firstlight]

Hi
for those who may be interested here are 4 more images of the Skua, the Sandwich Tern, and the Herring Gull.We are only allowed 5 images per post it seems so attached are the first 4, and I will follow it up with the remaing three, all long distance and not of the best quality but they tell a story about a moment in time, hope you find it of interest.
Regards David.

[Firstlight]

Part 2,
Hopefully,the last 3 images show the Skua chasing down the Tern and eventually getting the fish.
regards David and thanks for looking.