In between wandering about off-Patch I got about on-Patch, on a morning of rather icy conditions. Slipping along the pavements to the Nose, I gave it a go
Frosted Goblets
But this isn't about fungi.
Honest.
That one's still coming. Might even be two.....
Anyways,
A windier than forecast saturday afternoon, and bashing Patch inland to little effect led me down to the Harbour and a look about same.
Lots of Sandpipers Purple [ok, 9, a good half of what used to be a decent count in winter, but said season's still young]. and here's some cute piccies;
Mostly roosting.
But
There's always one
To the title, and there were quite a few divers knocking about the north end of the Bay, some at rather close range.
As promised
A Great Northern Diver.
This one was in the Outer Harbour, quite close to the Palace, actually. Observe the classic features; steely grey bill with dark culmen, like a dagger; bulging forehead; dusky cheeks with white feathering about the eye; bright white throat and breast; black contrasting semi-collar on a very thick neck; scalloping on the back, which while dark is paler than the back of the neck; blown-up feathers near the rump, a 'diver indicator' for poor angle views.
[Also note the white patch about the thigh caused by the bird slightly twisting in the water; a pitfall for those seeking Black-throated Divers!]
Now look at this bird,
Going the other way
Still a GND - look at the bill, facial markings etc. - but a much slimmer sleeker bird. At long range with an unhelpful angle/light on the bill making it look thinner, and that 'thigh patch'... Could be tricky?
Except.. that's the same bird.
"Gotcha!"
Ditto.
[And note how white the head and neck look from the front]
More views of more birds [each one's different!]
Not every black and white
diving bird with a long bill
is a GND!
They will also socialise,
sometimes in numbers.
Note the two different heights out of the water. Actively diving birds often sit lower [that one has just surfaced].
With a rather blustery and more southerly wind than forecast, a bit of persistence gave, as well as the Guillemot, 2 GNDs in the Outer Harbour, one towards London Bridge, and 4 off Torre Abbey [with 4 GC Grebes off Corbyn's and Livermead].
Ok, enough GNDs, here's a lovely sight from the Nose;
'Short'-beaked Common Dolphin
Dolphins!
Der....dum
Der....dum
Close in, too!
[That's the Lead Stone,
300m offshore]
Right, took far too long to get this done. Got more to come, including photos of a rarity!!
[Yes, you can even tell what it is and everything. I know, right?]
Be Seeing You...
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