With the decline of the gt Skua due to bird flu a couple of years ago it has given the Arctic Skua a chance to recover.
This year i have seen more Arctic than Gt Skuas. Other birds will have benefitted as well, Puffin especially seems to have had a good breeding season with only the odd Gt Skua patrolling the cliffs at Sumburgh Head.
Arctic Tern numbers have been down this year and i recon that the Grutness colony may be only a quarter of what it was last year.
It has not helped that people still keep entering the colony during the breeding season despite the five signs on the style. Even saw a big tent one day.
Arctic Skuas will be leaving some along with the terns, heading down to south Africa.
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