Donal Hickey: Spotted — Ireland's first south polar skua

Final confirmation is determined by the Irish Rare Birds Committee, based on video evidence and the evidence of the eight birders present when the pictures below were taken

South Polar Skua, Catharacta maccornicki on Cuverville Island, Antarctica where it is more typically seen

You see them with their mounted cameras and binoculars, sitting quietly on headlands, gazing out to sea and appearing endlessly patient.

Our top, sea-watching sites for the autumn bird passage are busy with birders and we can expect an influx of enthusiasts from Britain during their August bank holiday at the end of the month.