Possible Great Northern Diver

[Madelinew]

I think I may have seen my holy grail of birds, the Great Northern Diver in a sheltered bay on the Isle of Skye. Nobody take it away from me please No pictures as it was too far away but I was watching it closely through my spotting scope for several days.

It was definitely a diver going by the shape of the beak and angle of the head. There were also Shags and Goosanders in the vicinity so I could gauge it's size and it was between the 2 in size. My diver had a very white belly and I could just pick out a stripe around the neck but was put off by a definite ID because it had a pale neck blending into the cheeks. I've just looked at a pic of it in winter plumage and that colouring is present on the face so I'm wondering if it's on its way between the 2 plumages.

My bird book said that the other divers frequented freshwater lakes rather than the sea. Not sure how accurate that is.

Also, I spent a morning with scope and binoculars on Armadale pier seeing nothing but cormorants (it was very cold and the wildlife was more sensible than me). A ferry operator came over to talk to me and ask if I'd seen anything and he told me (unprompted) that he'd seen a Great Northern Diver the other day.

I also managed 3 otter sightings (got a pic of a gorgeous dog otter) amongst many other things so that was a very succesful break.

[aeshna5]

Without a photo, can't say for sure, but there's a good chance +it's possible it could be in transitional plumage. However all the diver species are more likely to be found on the sea at this time of the year. Both Black-throated + Red-throated are scace breeders in Scotland so will be found on freshwater lochs in the summer, but return to the sea once breeding is complete.

Any of the divers can turn up inland + there was a juv. Great-northern Diver around London at the weekend at Staines Reservoirs.

Other than the 3 regular species, 2 rarer species can occur- Pacific + White-billed, though the odds are clearly on the 3 regularly occurring species.

[RobSutton]

It's certainly the right time of year for Great Northern Divers - I've just come back from a week on Islay and they were everywhere. Saw 12 just from the ferry back to the mainland. At this time of year they are in various plumages, some still pretty much in summer dress, others already in full winter plumage and everything in between as well. At this time of year they are probably the commonest diver off the Scottish coast and your description sounds pretty good - that part collar you mention is a good character. Red-throats always seem very grey and have a slightly snooty appearance with beak held pointing a little upwards, on Black-throats you can normally pick out white patches just above the waterline towards the rear of the body and they are pretty scarce in winter in Scotland

[Madelinew]

I'm so pleased - I've wanted to see one since I read about Dick and friends adventures protecting a pair in one of the Swallows and Amazon books many years ago. I always see something new on every trip to Skye. I think I need to move there permanently - room for a wildlife recorder anyone?

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Madelinew

I'm so pleased - I've wanted to see one since I read about Dick and friends adventures protecting a pair in one of the Swallows and Amazon books many years ago. ......

I suspect you're not the only one inspired by that story - I was for starters.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by Madelinew

I'm so pleased - I've wanted to see one since I read about Dick and friends adventures protecting a pair in one of the Swallows and Amazon books many years ago. I always see something new on every trip to Skye. I think I need to move there permanently - room for a wildlife recorder anyone?

Great Northern? by Arthur Ransom was my favourite book when I was a child! So like you, I was absolutely thrilled when I finally got to see a Great Northern Diver.

Swallows and Amazons for ever!

[Madelinew]

And boo to the nasty egg collector - let's sink his boat....

[Geoff F]

In the dark depths of winter we get the odd N. Diver here, deep south. To tell them apart from cormorants etc I tend to watch how they dive. Cormorants are quite buoyant and lift their rear ends as they struggle to dive while N. divers, and a few similar species, just sink below the water.

[galanthus]

I've only ever seen one, it was on an inland reservoir around this time of the year maybe a little later. It took us around an hour to id cos it was below the water more than up

[ChrisJB]

My experience with divers on the sea at this time of year on the west coast of Scotland would say that the commoner two species (surprisingly I feel) are Black Throated and Great Northern. In fact this time last year, I saw plenty of the aforementioned (with Black Throated the commonest) species and not a single Red Throated.
Your description sounds good for Great Northern, which does show a distinct half collar, even in full winter plumage (the other two don't). They are also a much heftier looking bird than the other two species.
Any diver in summer plumage though, now you're talking. Spectacular.

Regards, Chris