Great Skua - Stercorarius skua

Size close to Herring Gull but body more barrel-shaped and heavier. Small individuals approaching size of large Pomarine Skua. It is a long-billed, broad-winged and relatively short-tailed skua. Plumage is dark brown, often appearing uniform except for striking white patches on both surfaces of the base of the primaries. Normal flight action closely resembles large gull but can be fast, agile and powerful in piratical chases of other birds. Warm dark brown, with indistinct pale straw streaking that is most obvious on the hind-neck, scapulars and rump. Bases of primaries wholly white, forming wide curved white panels that are visible at long range. Tail wedge-shaped and lacks central extension as in other skuas. Juvenile closely resembles adult but separable at close range as generally more rufous and dully spotted not streaked as in adult.

At long range and poor light may be confused with large immature gulls but white wing panels usually visible.  Most likely confusion is with large dark-phased Pomarine Skua when structural differences are important but these are all subjective and may be difficult to determine on a single bird.

Breeds on northern Scottish Islands but in none breeding season avoids land favouring pelagic zones of ocean.

In VC55 most likely as a storm driven autumn vagrant at large areas of water with most records from Rutland Water.

Usually solitary outside of the breeding season, occasionally in twos and threes and rarely forms small flocks.

Migrant breeder, mainly to the northern isles and particularly the Shetland Isles. Is a fairly common coastal migrant most likely to be seen in autumn but also in the spring.

Rare vagrant, mainly in autumn and invariably storm driven.