that is the question.
On 14.9.1994 I saw a pale grey-coloured small skua flying N in a strong wind off St Mary's Island, Newcastle.
I never ticked it as a long-tailed skua (which would be a lifer for me) as I felt I couldn't eliminate 1st summer artic skua.
However, Michael Frankis tells me:
quote:
there were 23 [long-taileds] N at St Mary's on that day, all juvs, the biggest passage of the year (also 39 juv Arctics N as well, but they wouldn't be cold grey)
I can empathize your quandary as I have been in a similar position on numerous occasions, but nowadays I'm quite rigid in that I won't include a bird as a tick unless I'm 100% satisfied myself as to it's identity. In these circumstances whilst I value Michael's opinion very highly, the fact they were seen passing at the right time period wouldn't be enough for me. Now if I had Michael stood beside me when I saw it and he confirmed the ID then that would be a different matter!
Sorry Surreybirder but I have to agree with IanF on this one, especially for a life tick. LT Skua was a bogey bird for me for a number of years until 2002. Keep seawatching and I'm sure you'll see.
Good luck
Tom