20th December - Emsworth Mill Pond, Hampshire

Back in the eighties when I started birding once again, I used to drive from Kingston along the A27 and pass what I thought was Langstone Harbour, a small expanse of water just south of the A27.  These days I know better, the town was Emsworth and the water was the Mill Pond.  Fast forward to today and there were reports of a very confiding Black-throated Diver on the pond.  So with a bright morning and clam conditions I decided to go and visit.  At the start of this year there was a Black-throated Diver off shore at Hill Head, but with their relative scarcity along the south coast it wasn't something to be missed.  And so I found myself carefully driving alongside the pond and then searching for a parking space.  I walked out to the sea wall are behind the mill and sailing club and there on the pond was the Black-throated Diver.

I have seen them close at Redbridge and Blashford Lakes, but nothing like this, plus here this morning the water in the pond was dead still, producing reflections everywhere from the buildings that surround the pond.

It started off at the back of the pond as I stood on the east side with the low sun behind me.

So close there were plenty of chances for portraits.

Apparently the diver wasn't present first thing, but was seen to fly in from the harbour around 8:45.  As the Redbridge divers did it seemed to be swimming the circuit of the pond, frequently diving, the dive proceeded by a quick check from the surface.

I make no apology for the number of photographs, there is different behaviour and such a variation in reflections and colour in the water.  Here the diver low in the water.

Diagnostic is the white patch at the back of the side flank.

One of my favourites with the dark water providing the background.

The beads of water on the neck and body show how effective the waterproofing that the oils provide.

This means that the diver has to preen frequently to keep the feathers in tip top condition.

Then, of course, the obligatory wing flap.

After a preen the Black-throated Diver disappeared off to the far side of the pond, and was replaced by an equally showy Red-breasted Merganser male.  You can't see it in these photographs but this male's other eye was badly damaged, but it didn't seem to be a problem for the merganser.

The merganser is a diving duck, so like the diver has to ensure the feathers are in good condition.  This one paused to have a scratch and a preen of the feathers.  The effect of this was to perk up the head the spikey feathers on the head.

Some lovely reflections

And some great backgrounds curtesy of the buildings reflecting in the still water.

But the star of the show was back and showing as equally well once again.

The dive is smooth, the head raised and then slowly pushed into the water without any leap or splash.

It was quite busy on the path with people walking past the group of birders photographing the diver.  Inevitably, they ask what we are looking at and where did it come from, they look at you with a blank face when you explain what it is and the fact that you usually only ever see them as a spec on the sea or flying past at speed.  To see one like this is a privilege, the only downside is that it isn't in full summer plumage.

Now the diver's turn to find itself in the coloured water from the reflections.

More snorkelling.

Whilst it was diving all the time its ratio of catch to dive was poor, unless it consumed under water.  However in the north east corner of the pond it seemed to find more luck, here a nice sized crab that was consumed almost whole, a few legs did drop off.

Stunning background from the reflections of the buildings.

 Some nice portraits

Some more preening.

The bill working well to condition the feathers

Then back to diving with that smooth action.

Back in the north east corner the diver caught another crab.

It would frequently appear from diving very close to us, but always seemed to appearwith its back to me.

Whilst on another of its circuits a nice adult Common Gull appeared on the pond.

Then the diver was back and again a different behaviour, this time lying low on the water.

Then the conditions began to change, the sun disappeared as the clouds started to roll in and the wind picked up which resulted in a loss of the reflections and the water a battleship grey.

I concentrated on some close ups and portraits.

See the patch on the neck where it had just preened the feathers.

The feathers here on the back the subject of attention.

Another portrait showing the beads of water, plus the forehead, that while not as pronounced as in the Great Northern, more than seen in the Red-throated.

The darkening clouds threatened the forecast rain so I decided to call it a morning.  An incredible experience and I doubt I will get anything like it with this species once again.

Also seen around the pond was a Kingfisher, several Brent, Black-tailed Godwits and a Curlew.

Before I leave though here is some video of the Black-throated Diver, diving.