Náttúrufræðingurinn - 1993, Page 151

of 34 birds (in 1965) and one record of 100
birds (in 1984). Pomarine Skuas have mainly
been reported from late April to the middle of
May and again in late August to the middle of
October, with occasional birds to the middle
of November (Fig. 3). This coincides with the
timing of their migration elsewhere in the N orth
Atlantic (Cramp & Simmons 1983). A few
records are from late June to late July, which
are probably non-breeding birds. Fig. 4 shows
the location of the records around Iceland and
number of birds seen. The Pomarine Skua is
probably a rather frequent migrant in Icelandic
waters during the spring and autumn, with
some stay ing over the summer. Up to and includ-
ing 1991 therehavebeen 151 records involving
521 individuals (average 3,5 birds per record).
2. Long-tailed Skua (Stercoraríus longicaudus)
In the past, Long-tailed Skuas have been
recorded more regularly than Pomarine Skuas.
They have occurred nearly annually since 1940
and annually since 1976 (Fig. 7). There is a
slight increasc in records in the last decade due
to increased birdwatching. Most records are of
single birds, but a few records of two to four
birds together, one of seven birds (in 1991) and
one record of at least 20 (in 1957). Long-tailed
Skuas are mainly recorded from middle of May
to middle of October, with a few in late April
(Fig. 8). The migration period appears to be
shorter in spring (with more birds in each group)
than in autumn (Cramp & Simmons 1983).
This can clearly be seen in the Icelandic records
(Fig. 8). Fig. 9 shows the location of the records
around and in Iceland and number of birds
seen. Contrary to Pomarine Skua, there are a
few rccords of Long-tailed Skua far inland,
which might suggest migration across Iceland.
Up to and including 1991 there have bcen 132
records involving 225 individuals (average 1,7
birds per record).
273