[obol] Boiler Bay, skuas partial retraction

[Phil Pickering]

Speaking of tough offshore identifications:

After giving it some thought I must reduce the Skua count
for today to 2, separate singles both seen quite close in
(~1/4 mile) that there was no question about -

- size, bulk of Western Gull, in direct comparison obviously much
larger & bulkier than California & Heermann's, rounder wing-tipped
and broader-winged and bodied than Pomarine which I see regularly
at that distance, comparatively stubby wedge-shaped tails, bills
visibly thick at distance, bodies very thick through rump with little
taper, cold dark silvery gray-brown coloration, direct powerful flight,
relatively uniform (not much taper) white bars at the bases of the upper
primaries as bright or even brighter than bars on the under-primaries,
slight paling on the nape seen on one bird (specifically looked for it)
but with no hint of paling on rump or belly.

The other four appeared to be 2 loosely associated pairs seen much
further out and more briefly. At the time I felt confident they had the
same shape, color, and flight-style as the previous 2 birds, and had 
similarly
uniform upper/lower white bars at the primary bases. In retrospect,
though, I'm sure I don't have the experience to confidently rule out dark
Poms at distance without more prolonged looks or size comparison with
other species which wasn't possible.

so make it:

11/11 -
2 South Polar Skua
4 Skua/Pom

Cheers,

Phil