South Polar Skua Mega in Tassie

Last Wednesday, 7 June, I had a Lifer Day. A Lifer Day became a thing for me when life birds were becoming so few and far between that just having a Lifer Pie treat did not seem to be enough of a celebration. This bird was particularly well earned by us all.

South Polar Skua, photo by Bird-Spots

The tale begins with the arranging, sorting and booking of a pelagic trip out of Eaglehawk Neck, Tasmania a few months ago. I cannot express enough appreciation for Karen Dick’s organisation, knowledge, patience and support. She is also a dear, dear friend. As the time of the trip approached, so did my usual travel anxieties. I understand more about them now. I know that they are based in my neurodivergent ADHD brain chemistry. It has been almost seventy years now of dealing with it, but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier.

Fixing to leave Melbourne

My birding buddy James and I were to leave Friday 2 June for a Saturday-Sunday double header. On Wednesday, I began having gastro ‘issues’ the details of which I will not include (you’re welcome). But I was mostly okay and visited my delightful littlest granddaughter that evening. Thursday I did not feel particularly well, but I figured I was getting better. Friday we flew down to Tassie. My stomach still just was not right. I had no appetite, but managed a light dinner, got my seasickness patch on and went to bed about 10pm.

As I have written about so many times, the scopolamine patches make me feel like crap but prevent the misery of full-blown seasickness. But... this time I was already feeling unwell. About 7:15 am Saturday 3 June, we headed off shore. It was a bit breezy and becoming more and more so. The day had some very good birds. It also got much rougher and we had some rain. I had given up on photography and was concentrating on seeing birds and holding on. We had wonderfully majestic Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Petrel (always good birds), White-headed Petrels, Soft-plumaged Petrels, also all good birds and Grey-backed and Wilson’s Storm-Petrels dancing on the waves. I know I am forgetting some as I was in quite a fog during the trip. I really did not feel well. Not exactly seasick (I have been very seasick many years ago) but sick.

     

Yeah, I had felt better, hahaha

The chronology of the day is confused. After about 9am I took no photos. And it continued to get rougher. There was one point when the boat rolled sideways at such an angle that about a third of the participants were spilled onto the deck. Yes really (no injuries gratefully). I was standing and gripping the railing with both hands. I had also thrown-up. In almost 70 years of boating, a first for me, not the kind of Lifer experience I hope for. I even did it twice.

And then around noonish (I think), the star of the show glided in. Karen called out, “Skua!” and added, “feel free to convince me it's South Polar”. It arrived rather peacefully and stayed around the boat for a bit. We saw it repeatedly. Sadly, my camera was on the floor of the cabin. It had fallen there when that big wave knocked us around so badly (the camera was not damaged). Others did get some wonderful photos of this bird and I am truly grateful for their talents and their generosity in sharing them with me. Without good shots of this bird it would not have been definitively identified. But that would come later.

South Polar Skua, photo by Bird-Spots

South Polar Skua, photo by Bird-Spots

South Polar Skua, photo by Bird-Spots

South Polar Skua, photo by Jodi Osgood

South Polar Skua, photo by Jodi Osgood

We chugged back to shore, docked and headed to the motel. Longer story short, I still felt pretty crap and decided it would be mad to put a patch on and go out again on Sunday. I did not go, another first for me.

On Sunday, I just lay around our room at the Lufra and did a lot of internet research on South Polar Skua. Others in the group, particularly Andy, (his website is https://bird-spots.com/ ) and Jodi Osgood had shared their photos in our FB messenger group. I looked a lot at those images. The more I researched the more I became convinced that we had a South Polar. But I needed an expert to give it the nod. My friend Jeff Davies certainly qualifies and I shot him a message asking if he could take a look at a bird. He was travelling but got back to me Sunday night. I sent him one of Andy’s photos. 

The view out front on my quiet Sunday

I will never forget his response. It was short and oh, so sweet. He wrote simply, “Sth Polar, Cheer.” I got that message about 10pm Sunday. It took me ages to go to sleep after that. Lifer High was vibrating in my chest.

Monday morning, Karen drove James and me to the airport (more gratitude to her) and by dabout 4pm I was back at the house in Lara. Travel is what travel is. It went fine.

 

Leaving Tassie

Arriving Melbourne 

Lifer Selfie for South Polar Skua with my buddy James. We have seen a lot of Life Birds together

So, in the midst of feeling so crap on Saturday, I had gotten an excellent Lifer. As my dear friend and brilliant pelagic birder Paul Brooks said, “enjoy it buddy, that's a dead-set mega!” Thank you mate, I am enjoying it and I am grateful.

And... Lifer Pie (pecan and vanilla ice cream)

Sending love as I do ❤️