WBD2

 

Yesterday, Les Hall, found another White Billed Diver or Loon or whatever in Blyth South Harbour. This is almost 30 years to the week since another great banana bill graced the estuary, that one was found by the late Tim Cleeves and the resulting phone call found me 20 minutes later standing on the Seven Stars Jetty still in my slippers, alone with the monster. 

This bird showed very well in the  calm water of the marina area, albeit still a bit of a distance out, but the scope views were fantastic. In the hour I was there it loafed around in typical lethargic manner, only getting active when it appeared to try and dislodge something from its throat? Counting back I think this is my 7th in Northumberland, with 3 of those coming in the last 13 months.

Part of a recent influx of birds into the north east UK, this is the 5th in a week in Northumberland with another dozen or so in the Firth of Forth . It appears there has never been a better time to add the rare arctic visitor to your self found list. ( two for me, one at Boulmer, one at Hauxley back when they were really rare).

Joking aside, these are magnificent birds to see and, lately, almost passing Black throated Diver in accessibility. So when the chance arises, go out an meet one, you never know when the next will come along though at the current pace, it might not be too long...