Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)
Species
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