red throated diver

Fairhaven Lake again, this time in April.

This bird came in quite close to feed.

On calm days we could hear these calling, and on this day, they were easy to spot even from afar, as the water was like a mirror.

We could hear these during the first week, when conditions were calm, calling out from the centre of the loch. Occasionally they would stray to the edge and show us what they were up to. In this case, the adult has perhaps been trying to teach its offspring to fish, but presents it with a fish...

From a magical day on Mousa, Shetland, back in 2011. After trying to find such divers all over the place (and there are a lot of them) where we could get reasonably close, we stumbled upon a pair on a tiny loch on the island.

Water colour & gouache 15 yards off Weybourne Beach

Was able to get reasonably close to these beauties by using the car as a hide. They eventually came to me!

Red throated diver skye June 2010

Red Throated Diver taken on Fairhaven Lake Lytham St Annes.

first time ive been so close to this bird to really see the beauty in its winter coat..

Taken late evening but in good light.

A very obliging bird. That is when it reappeared, having flown off just as I arrived!

Red throated diver.

Red Throated Diver

9.15am the sun had just risen over the lake.... he headed straight into its glow.

No fear.... he didn't drop the stickleback!

I'll be back to Lytham on Saturday..... hope they are still there.

Yesterday I tried to photograph the Red throated diver again and get more colour in the water so the photo didnt look quite so monotone. I dont really feel I achieved it that well but its more colourful than my last efforts.

This is the diver from yesterday just after he surfaced and was shaking excess water from his head.