Diver ID Help, West Sussex, UK (1 Viewer)

[Mokey]

Had a diver earlier that I'm not sure about. I saw it in with a group of 6 Red Throated, size was pretty similar but it had a noticably darker overall appearance with much less white in the neck area. It kept swimming around holding its beak pointing a bit upwards like Red Throated do but I don't know if that could just be it mimicing the Red Throated it has mixed in with?








I'm wondering if it's a Black Throated or a 1st year Red Throat that hasn't fully moulted into winter plumage or something?

 

[Earnest lad]

I propose Red-throated diver

 

[Farnboro John]

Red-throated. Look at the bill posture and shape.

John

 

[Harrybongo]

Hi. As mentioned, looks like a Red throated - quite a prominent white flash on the flank/side

 

[The Kerreran]

Hi Mokey.
Red-throated Diver shows extensive white on the neck in adult winter plumage - the classic saying being if you can see white from the back it's RTD - but first winter birds such as this will retain much/all of their greyer juvenile plumage and look quite different, as you suspected.