Great Northern Diver at Ringstone Edge Reservoir, West Yorkhire

October 19, 2011:
On this high Pennine wind-swept reservoir a mature bird has been present for several days. It was in full summer plumage and beautifully marked, quite different to the juveniles or moulting birds sometimes seen inland in the autumn. Great Northern Divers nest mainly in Iceland and Greenland and return there in April after wintering much further south, usually well off-shore in the Atlantic.



This bird spent most of the time diving and would often travel a considerable distance under water which made it difficult to relocate on the choppy surface. It occasionally preened and wing-flapped and on more than one occasion sang mournfully, a most eerie sound at this remote location. Unfortunately it was always distant which made photography difficult.

Great Northern Diver, Fleetwood, Lancashire

November 9, 2010:
Rough weather and very strong winds had persuaded this juvenile bird to seek refuge on the marine lake at Fleetwood. Even there conditions weren't good with large waves even on this small lake. None of it seemed to concern the bird which was happily diving and catching small fish. It was occasionally harassed by three Mergansers and a Black-headed Gull which presumably didn't approve of this invasion of their territory. When attacked or during the strongest gusts of wind it would adopt a low profile flattening itself almost to water level. Its orange-red eye can be seen in the above photograph.








[Flattened profile adopted when harassed or in strongest winds]






[A successful dive]