Long-tailed Skua - Selsey - West Susex 15th August 2014

Seeing a Long-tailed Skua on the deck is not something you witness very often! Having gained flight views last week, I was more than happy to go back and try again for this fantastic bird and a very welcome one in Sussex. The bird has a habit of returning to the same beach on the east beach of Selsey just up from the lifeboat station at high tide. I decided to head there before and stake the area out as my daughter Robyn was with me too, I was keen for her to see the Skua too.

Upon arrival, I could see some birders in the distance all looking down onto the beach and I could see the Skua on the shingle...surely it would stick until I got there...nope! The Skua flew out into the bay chasing some terns and that was that. We walked down to the area and hoped the Skua would make a quick return, which it didn't! Whilst scanning, a Peregrine was causing havoc flushing small waders off the beach, hirundines were passing through with Sand Martin's moving in number along with Swallows. Little, Common and Sandwich Terns were noted offshore and a Great-crested Grebe was on the sea..Robyn amused herself picking blackberries!

A lady in front of me picked out a interesting bird that dropped onto the sea, I was soon onto it and watched this bird very distantly, banking round harassing a Sandwich Tern, it was the Long-tailed Skua! I followed it as it flew further out before banking around and heading inland before turning towards us. I managed to get the other gathered birders onto it and we followed it as it came closer, eventually plonking itself on the sea in front of us! Stunning ! It soon flew again and landed on the beach right underneath me, no need to move ! Plenty of smiles all round by the people present and Robyn got to see her first Long-tailed Skua!

A few photo's were obtained not having to move, nor sneak up on my hands and knees! The bird was close enough ! One word to describe this bird....AWESOME