Seabird ID please

[dbozkurt]

Took a walk on the Braigh nr Stornoway and saw swooping Terns then this first bird, got a very blurring flight picture and then it settled on some rocks in the sea. So off came the trainers, trousers rolled up I waded as close as I could without swimming . Cropped but two views, think it may be some kind of Skua but not sure.





This one flew off I walked a little way and then two darker birds flew above me landed on the same rocks, again I waded out to try and get a picture that could be ID with cropping......and I have x 18 optical zoom so you can see how wet I got!!!







I think these were also Skua, I think I got a picture of both birds in the second batch but I don't think a great Skua, can you please help me.

Thanks Debs

[Tursiops2]

They're both Arctic skuas. Don't ask me why or how, but Arctic skuas have both pale and dark forms.
T2

[GuyF]

I'd agree, pale and dark forms of Arctic Skuas, you're lucky seeing them that close, the only one I've ever seen was miles away out to sea on migration, just a dot through the telescope!
Guy