76 Indian Birds Vol. 7 No. 3 (Publ. 21 October 2011)

Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus at Kannur coast, south-western India

C. Sashikumar, C. K. Vishnudas, S. Raju, P. A. Vinayan & V. A. Shebin C. K. Vishnudas K. C. Sashikumar, C., Vishnudas, C. K., Raju, S., Vinayan, P. A., & Shebin, V. A. 2011. Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus at Kannur coast, south-western India. Indian BIRDS 7 (3): 76. C. Sashikumar, Sree Nilayam, Pattanur P O, Kannur 670595, Kerala, India. Email: [email protected] Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus off Kannur C. K. Vishnudas,Vishnu Nivas, Karimkutty P O, Kalpetta 673121, Wayanad, Kerala, India. coast, January 2011. Email: [email protected] S. Raju, Kavil Variam, Kodakara, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Email: [email protected] P. A. Vinayan, Pandancheri House, Vemom P O, Mananthavady, Wayanad 670645, Kerala, India. Email: [email protected] V.A. Shebin, Valiyaparambil House, Chiramanangad P.O, Thrissur, 680604. Email: [email protected]

s part of the Malabar Ornithological Survey, organised along 66–69 in this issue). the lines of the Travancore-Cochin Ornithological Survey Parasitic Jaeger (aka Arctic Skua or Parasitic Skua) breeds A2009 (Sashikumar et al. 2011), and sponsored by the north of Eurasia, North America, and Scotland, and winters in the Forests and Wildlife Department, Kerala, an offshore expedition whole of the southern oceans; in South Asia it occurs, “probably was organised to survey the diversity of pelagic birds off the regular off Pakistan coast in non-breeding season; sighted as a Malabar Coast on 24 and 28 January 2011. The survey team, vagrant elsewhere along the coasts. Only specimen traced for consisting of the authors and two forest department personnel, entire region is from Mekran Coast …” (Rasmussen & Anderton surveyed the sea off Kannur in northern Kerala, starting from 2005; Jones et al. 2008). Parasitic Jaeger is a colonial breeder Azhikkal fishing harbour, in a motor boat, entering the sea through in islands of northern hemisphere along with other skuas. Some the river mouth at Azhikkal estuary (11°57’N, 75°22’E), where of the recent studies in Scotland (Jones et al. 2008) show that the Valapattanam and Kuppam rivers have their confluence at the the breeding of the species is affected by the presence of, and Lakshadweep (Arabian) Sea. The survey started around 0900 hrs predation by, Greater Skua S. skua, and the UK population of on both days, and concluded by 1400 hrs. breeding S. parasiticus has seen a sharp decline of around 37% On 24 January, at 1000 hrs, one km offshore, we spotted a since 1980 (Furness & Ratcliffe 2004). large group of Brown-headed- Larus brunnicephalus and Black- Considering rarity of the species within Indian waters, headed- L. ridibundus Gulls circling around the fishing boats. we consider these sightings important. A regular sea-board While observing the flock we noticed a brown bird chasing some monitoring programme off the coast of Kerala and elsewhere of the gulls. We approached the flock as close as possible to in India will give more insight into the wintering population and have a good look at the bird. Soon, another similar bird was feeding ecology of the less known seabirds. seen chasing the gulls. It landed near our boat, and despite the swaying boat, we managed to take some photographs of this bird. It was well camouflaged in its low flight over the water and Acknowledgements the gulls seldom realised its presence until it was close to them. We express our sincere gratitude to Shri T. M. Manoharan, Principal Chief Once it reached the flock of gulls they flew off the water, and Conservator of Forests and the staff of Forests and Wildlife Department, the bird chased selected individuals, probably those who had Government of Kerala for initiating and supporting the Malabar Ornitho- logical Survey and Dr Dinesan Cheruvat, Deputy Director, Mappila Bay recently gorged on food—a typical case of kleptoparasitism. Fisheries Complex, Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, Kan- nur for logistic support. Description Upper parts grey-brown, brownish cap, an indistinct brown References breast, faint bands on flanks band and barred upper and under Furness, R. W., & Ratcliffe, N., 2004. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus. tail-coverts. Under parts whitish. Distinctly pointed central tail Pp. 160–172. In: Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland. Mitch- feathers were clearly visible. In flight, we could see the dark ell, P. I., Newton, S., Ratcliffe, N., & Dunn, T., (eds). London: T & AD primaries with white, “flash”. Poyser. On 28 January 2011, on our trip from the same location, we Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2005. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley saw a single bird of the same species, around 1200 hrs, 2 km guide. 2vols. 1st ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. from the shore, again around a flock of gulls. Sashikumar, C., Vishnudas, C. K., Raju, S., Vinayan, P. A., & Kannan, S., From our field observations and from the photographs, this 2011. On the status of Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis in seabird was identified as Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticus, southern Kerala. Indian BIRDS 7 (1): 7–9. a pale morph adult in winter plumage. This species was earlier Jones, T., Smith, C., Williams, E., & Ramsay, A., 2008. Breeding perfor- recorded from the same area during a pelagic bird survey mance and diet of Great Skuas Stercorarius skua and Parasitic Jae- organised by Malabar Natural History Society and KeralaBirder gers (Arctic Skuas) S. parasiticus on the west coast of Scotland. Bird on 25 and 26 September 2010 (see Praveen et al. 2011, pp. Study 55: 257–266.