Another non-juvenile immature skua

Following my last post about a first-summer Pomarine Skua here's another immature skua that's not a juvenile.  This one was seen on a sea watch from Sheringham in Norfolk.

I'm not completely sure if it's first-summer or second-summer.  Whilst it had a dark forehead and forecrown covering pretty much the same area as the dark on an adult pale-phase Arctic Skua it wasn't at all well-defined and didn't really recall the dark cap of an adult.  From what I've read a second-summer would be better defined than this, but do you agree that it must therefore be first-summer?  Are there any other pointers visible in the photos that enable us to age it?

And what about the species.  Having discussed it with Rob I think it's an Arctic, and that's what I thought it was in the field too.  While I was watching it I did wonder if Long-tailed could be ruled out, and I'm still not completely certain I've adequately eliminated that possibility.  What do you think?  Is there anything in the photos that clinches it beyond doubt?

probable first-summer Arctic Skua, Sheringham, 27th September 2012

First-summer Pom

I was hoping to come back from the Scilly birders' pelagic with photos of Wilson's Petrels to share with you but sadly that didn't quite work out (again).

Instead here's something a bit different - a Pomarine Skua in first-summer plumage.  Apparently they don't normally get many Poms down there but this year there have been a few, nearly all first-summers.  Not a plumage we get to see very often here in Norfolk, although if I'm perfectly honest it's quite possible I've overlooked it in the past.

Pomarine Skua, MV Sapphire birders' pelagic trip, 12th August 2012

Oh, and while I'm at it I might as well show off a bit of Great Shear action... something else we don't see in Norfolk very often.

Great Shearwater, MV Sapphire birders' pelagic trip, 12th August 2012