Black-Throated Diver
Gavia arctica
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Distribution Britain 199 (-6.1%) Ireland 0
Numbers breeding: Britain 170 Ireland 1 ? European status: 22,000 (1% in Britain and Ireland =4) British population trend: seems assured How likely are you to record it? 8 squares (0.2%) Ranked 155= |
This species usually nests and feeds on large freshwater lochs. There has been no marked change in Scotland save for a slow spread south but numbers have remained much the same with 151 summering pairs estimated in a 1985 survey which was the most complete count. The birds are absent from the Northern Isles and most of the Inner Hebrides but are on the Western Isles. A single possible breeding record in Donegal is recent and the first possibility recorded for breeding in Ireland. The medium-term future seems assured for this magnificent Scottish bird.
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
Black-Throated Diver
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead