Thursday, January 27, 2022
Mid-afternoon on this greyish day I spotted a diver far out on Loch Broom, its up-tilted head and bill identifying it as a red-throated. A second diver, closer in to West Shore but still distant, seemed a bit small for a great-northern; and the fairly conspicuous patch of white to the rear of the flank confirmed that this was a black-throated diver.
The diver was going my way, drifting towards the harbour; so I followed and walked cautiously out towards where a fisherman was giving the quayside a vigorous wash with a pressure hose. I took refuge behind the rubbish bags and saw the diver again.
Inspired by another birder writing an occasional column in the Guardian, I recently compiled a list of birds seen within a mile of home. Looking at it when I'd uploaded my photos, I realised that black-throated diver wasn't included. It is now!
// posted by Christine @ 11:00 AM 
