Seabird help - I'm out of my depth...

[Deb London]

Groan...

I am stuck for ID ideas at the moment.

Near Lydd on the South Kent coast was a bird that was very happy to float on the water. The waves were choppy and quite often when one came, it would dive (it simply disappeared) and surface maybe a minute later. It reminded me of a diver in winter plumage, but I'm not getting a feel as to whether I'm getting close, as internet info and descriptions don't fit that well.

It was a way out, so apart from a general "diffuse/pied" plumage and impression of a pointed and substantial bill and long body shape, I don't have accurate observations. I don't have a good impression of size, though decided it was larger than your average gull at the time. But I had no size reference as it kept itself to itself and scale at sea is confusing.

I thought I'd get some ideas on Google, but I'm getting nowhere. Anyone fancy bouncing some ideas in my direction?

Thanks.

[htcdude]

It sounds very much like a diver!

Otherwise consider Red-breasted Merganser or Gannet. Or even Cormorant or Shag??

Nige

[Dogghound]

Hard to say unless you have more info Deb, I would have a look at great crested grebe as a good possibility if not could be any of the divers sounds a bit big to be an auk. Can you remember what its dive was like?

[Deb London]

Thanks Nige.

It wasn't as dark as a shag, it wasn't as light as a Gannet. It was a bird that I'm not familiar with, so not Cormorant.

If pushed I'd say the top of the head was darker than the area nearer the eye.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Deb London

it wasn't as light as a Gannet

Even a juvenile?

If pushed I'd say the top of the head was darker than the area nearer the eye

Could be a Great Northern Diver in winter plumage perhaps.

Nige

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Hard to say unless you have more info Deb, I would have a look at great crested grebe as a good possibility if not could be any of the divers sounds a bit big to be an auk. Can you remember what its dive was like?

It only went under when the waves obscured it so couldn't see it dive. The waves were pretty "violent". I marvelled at its ability to survive. I would have drowned.

Grebe - hadn't thought of that! I didn't associate them with the sea! Ta.

[tigertom]

Guillemot may be, it would fit with the gen discription and size
MIKE
Sorry just read OP again bigger than a gull so no not a gillemot

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Even a juvenile?




Could be a Great Northern Diver in winter plumage perhaps.

Nige

Thanks Nige, juvenile! Ahh, you see, hadn't thought of that. Will look at that too.
I saw (what I now think were) Gannets in a flock in the distance - interesting wings - about half and half black and white. This one was completely separate. A Billy-no-mates.

[htcdude]

I reckon Great Northern Diver. Black and Red-throated have more white on the head, so if you think it was darker on head, I'd go with GND.

Nige

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by tigertom

Guillemot may be, it would fit with the gen discription and size
MIKE

Thank you Mike. At the time I put it down to Guillemot-type. Then I got home and got confused as I couldn't see that a Guillemot would be there, in south Kent. But if it might be, then I will have another look. Cheers.