Firstly apologies for a poor picture, was getting dark and was at full zoom...
I initially thought this must be a black throated Diver in it's winter coat but consulting the books there is no reference to the reference to the red line from this birds eye to beak. The line seems a bit too distinctive for it to be ignored by fieldbooks?
Anybody got an feelings on this? is it something obvious?
This was spotted near Shiplake, Oxon if that helps.
Thanks for any help
Mark
Learning more and more as the weeks go by
Hi Mark,
I think you will find it is a great crested grebe in winter plumage.
Regards Derek
Hi Mark
Sadly it's not a diver although it does dive.
It's a great crested grebe in winter plumage. In the breeding season it will develop the distinctive characteristic "ears".
Regards
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Thanks guys.. that does make sense we get a lot of Great Crested Grebes here and it's body shape made me think Grebe I just forgot to check winter plummage and it's missing ears was another spanner in the works.
surprised this didn't show in 'similar birds' for the DIver in any of the books.
Thanks