Blagdon Lake Birds

Red-throated (Loon) Diver Gavia stellata [Pontoppidan, 1763]

(Very rare PM)

Red-throated Diver, Kopasker, Iceland. 12th July 2008.

1. One, not aged, 1920 (D. Carr).
2. One, not aged, 4th Dec. 1927 (B.W. Tucker).
3. One, not aged, Dec. 1928 (D. Carr).
4. One, not aged, 17th March 1929 (B.W. Tucker).
5. One, not aged, 20th March to 4th April 1937 (J.H. Savory, H.H. Davis et al.).
6. One, not aged, 10th March 1946 (A.V. Cornish).
7. One, not aged, 1st-15th Feb. 1955 (G.C. Buxton).
8. One, juvenile, 25th April 1998 (N.R. Milbourne et al.). See note 1 below.

Note 1: ABR 1998 states this to be the 2nd site record, but it is actually at least the 6th. Spotted off the North Shore car park during a WeBS Count but flew off east while being watched by the team.

At least two records, 1937 and 1955, refer to oiled birds the last of which eventually died.

Bibliography (sources of information):

1. Blaythwayt, Rev F.L. (ed.). Report on Somerset Birds, 1927. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.
2. Blaythwayt, Rev F.L. (ed.). Report on Somerset Birds, 1929. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.
3. Blaythwayt, Rev F.L. (ed.). Report on Somerset Birds, 1937. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.
4. Blaythwayt, Rev F.L. (ed.). Report on Somerset Birds, 1946. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.
5. Davis, A.H. (ed.) Avon Bird Report, 1998. Avon Ornithological Group.
6. Davis, H.H. (ed.). Bristol Bird Report, 1955. Bristol Naturalists' Society.
7. Davis, H.H. (ed.). Report on Somerset Birds, 1955. Somersetshire Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc.