Pomatorhine Skuas on the Durham and Yorkshire coasts
I have to record the occurrence of another large flight of Pomatorhine Skuas at Redcar, a flight similar in some respects to that which visited this place on the 14th October last year, but not in such vast numbers.
Similar in this, that it consisted almost entirely of mature birds of the white-breasted variety, only three or four being dark-plumaged, but whether immature or adult I could not ascertain.
While the terrific storm of October 28th was at its height, considerable numbers, amounting to several hundreds, of these Skuas passed Redcar, coming from eastward and seaward and going N.W. and W.
They passed along the front of the town flying close to the esplanade and houses, struggling to make headway against the storm, and, although possessed of great strength of wing, many of them were obliged to rest for a time on the water or else were driven inland.
Unconscious of danger, they flew within a few yards of those persons who had courage to venture out.
I did not hear of any having been shot or captured in any way.
In fact, it was well nigh impossible to stand out in the face of a blinding storm of hail, rain and sand driven by a N.E. hurricane of fearful severity, and shooting was entirely out of the question.
Several Storm Petrels were observed, and a birdstuffer at Marske obtained three, two of which I have secured, as also a Fulmar picked up by a Redcar fisherman.
Two Gannets were captured during the storm in an exhausted condition, and another Fulmar was picked up about the middle of October.
Attention has been called to the manner in which the Pomatorhine Skua carries its tail, shut up like a fan.
I may here state that last year, when the great flight of Skuas occurred at Redcar, I was very much struck by the peculiar appearance of the tails of these birds, especially those of the mature examples.
When flying straight ahead the tail was closed, and had a most strange and unnatural look, giving the bird when seen from underneath almost the appearance of a cross, the wings being nearly motionless and the tail seeming to be much longer than was found to be the case on examining them after having been shot.
The structure of the Pomatorhine Skua is eminently adapted for rapid flight, and the tail plays an important part in guiding its owner in its evolutions when pursuing the Gulls and Terns.
In several instances when I had shot a Skua, others came to the dead or wounded bird, and in their twistings and turnings while swooping round, continually opened and shut their tails, much in the same way as Terns do when fishing over a shoal of sprats.
T. H. Nelson
North Bondgate
Bishop Auckland
Co Durham
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