Great Skua, or
Bonxie as it known over much of the UK, is one of the ultimate offshore
predators, striking fear into even the toughest of large gulls, Gannets
and other species. Even a large flock of Great Black backed Gulls, one
of the biggest bullies around, will panic when a Bonxie shows itself
over the waves. GBBGs will chase and mob an eagle
but not a Bonxie:)
In August 2021 close to the Brage platform the GBBGs were acting
strangely and making a similar call to the ones outside my house when a
White-tailed Eagle shows up. I scanned around without seeing anything
at first but sure enough there was a Great Skua sitting on the
sea close to the vessel, once it took off the GBBGs fled for the safety
of the platform.
o pi Great
Skua, NW of Faroe Islands, North Atlantic, 27 May 2008
Great
Skua, NW of Faroe Islands, North Atlantic, 27 May 2008
Great
Skua are one of the toughest species around. This species is seen
commonly offshore in the North Sea and Norwegian sectors where it beats
up on most species of seabird - although it tends to stay clear of
Fulmars if it can.
This is one of the most regular skua species seen during seawatches off
Skogsøy, Øygarden.
Great Skua, Norwegian Sector, July 2017
This bird showed an acute interest in some migrating Grey Herons
which attempted to land on the vessel in an attempt to avoid the skua
o pi
