BirdForum

hi calvin , really good report , hope ur better soon , i live on the kent coast and have not been lucky enough to see a dolphin here but have seen dolphins on holiday in cornwall not sure what species though ?? black guillemots are very rare down here too but we do get are fare share of divers which are mainly on passage and quite difficult to i.d ( well i think they are ....lol )

There might be one hanging around, will try to find one next time I'm there.

An interesting report, Calvin. I'm also ill with flu, and its hit my family too, although at different points, so we're on the same boat there! Divers can indeed be difficult, and as Andrew says they can be hard to differentiate in rough/poor conditions. With a first winter Black-throated you're really looking for a slightly bigger diver that is generally a good deal darker than a Road-throated and thicker billed. Red-throats tend to have a slighty upturned bill, whilst Black-throats don't. Its interesting that you say that you might have seen one at Greyhope Bay, as my Dad and I had a possible when were birding from there a couple of weeks ago.

It's not quite the same, particularly if you don't see them well. They're fairly distinctive but only once you get used to them.

Thanks, is it akin to the Buzzard/Golden Eagle situation? "If your not sure then it's a Buzzard"

Nice report Calvin. Great-northern Diver is a bit more frequent at Girdle Ness than Black-throated. The latter is pretty scarce in northeast Scotland. The two can be a bit difficult to separate, and also beware of Red-throateds looking a bit dark.

Beautiful shots!

Love all the birdies you got!
Starlings are great and the cormorants are some of my favorites!

Thanks :)
I've tried to find them again,but I guess they went back into our Zoo area (yes, the manager here has a private Zoo....don't ask....) to hide there.

Well put.
I doubt though that humans will overcome their greed.
We will use the alternatives for oil and such only when the resources will be depleted.
But maybe Mother nature took her revenge on us before that.
I guess it will be the latter.

Wonderful looking birds you found, Nicole! They are a new species to me too! They look half Dove and half Wagtail.lol!! Well done in spotting them.

*Have I mentioned lately that my Internet starts going on my nerves....*

Comment ended up here twice...

Grin,I'll be thinking of you next time I stroll along the beach and get mad about everything starting so late here when it's already blazing hot again.
That might cool my temper down
Glad you are prepared for winter now!

Think of us in the UK when you are cooling down in the pool with the air temperature of 26c, Nicole!
It has heaved it down with rain here this afternoon! Fortunately I have short hair or else the rain would have ruined my new hairstyle this afternoon!
Found the rest of my winter gear so I am prepared for all weathers now.

I am looking forward to reading about more of your local wildlife!
Enjoy your sunshine!