Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on February 2nd 2022. Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on February 2nd 2022. (1/800th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description L: 73-88 cm; WS: 122-148 cm The Great Northern Diver is a large, strongly-built bird. Its breeding plumage is largely black and white, with a greenish-black head. Juveniles have mixture of brown, black, white and grey feathers. A striking feature of this bird is its massive bill. It is mainly found in North America, where it is called the Common Loon. There is a small breeding population on Iceland. It breeds on large, deep lakes in woodland, and on tundra. It is a winter visitor to Britain from its Icelandic breeding grounds, and mainly stays on the coast, although occasional birds turn up on inland reservoirs. Around 2500 birds over-winter here. It is on the UK amber list as a large proportion of the European population over-winters here. Sightings 02-Feb-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 04-Jan-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 15-Dec-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 05-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 28-Mar-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | 11-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 02-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 02-Jan-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 24-Dec-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 13-Dec-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 09-Dec-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 26-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 23-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 13-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 10-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) | 06-Nov-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1juv) |
| 20-May-2019 | : | Ardivachar, South Uist | (1) | 19-May-2019 | : | Aird an Runair, North Uist | (1) |
| 12-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | 09-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | 05-Apr-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | 25-Mar-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | 07-Feb-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | 04-Jan-2016 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| 28-Dec-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | 06-Dec-2015 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| 08-Jan-2012 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| 16-Apr-2011 | : | Sea off Penzance | (2) |
| 04-Jan-2009 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| 16-Nov-2008 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) |
| 10-Apr-1997 | : | Isles of Scilly | |
| |