Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)

OTHER NAMES: Parasitic Jaeger, Arctic Jaeger, Parasitic Skua
Latin Etymology: Stercorarius ("of dung") parasiticus ("parasitic)

First Calender Year Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk -  July 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 300-650g  /  Length: 41-48cm  /  Wingspan: 107-125cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Arctic Skua is the smallest of the four skuas found in the UK; a group that I'd had a lot of trouble catching up with at all.  The three smaller skuas (arctic, great and pomarine) all have fairly similar plumage and occur in different colour morphs broadly categorised as light and dark. Compared to the other two species, it has a shorter tail and is smaller.  They are migratory, breeding mostly around the Arctic ocean and migrating to spend Winters around the South of South America, Africa and Australasia. 

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Stercorariidae
Genus: Stercorarius
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very local breeding species in the North of Scotland (2100 pairs) and passage migrant along all coasts.

 - A single dark phase bird seen at Herne Bay in October 2019, .

 - A single 1cy bird seen at Winterton-on-Sea in July 2023, .

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, coastal passage elsewhere
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sympetrum (?) sanguineum ("bloody")

Adult male Ruddy Darter (Symperum sangiuneum) at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk - July 2023

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 3.4-3.6cm  /  Wingspan: 6cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread but local species of dragonfly, the Ruddy Darter iss similar in appearance to the Common Darter, but possesses all black legs and and a more "waisted" abdomen. It's range in the UK is currently expanding Northward, likely due to climate change.  

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Sympetrum
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common residet of much of England
 - Seen at various sites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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