David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
_____________________________________________________________________Birds 169 – Red-throated Divers or Red-throated
Loons
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
RED-THROATED
DIVER OR RED-THROATED LOON Gavia stellata
·
The majority of these photographs of Red-throated Divers or Red-throated
Loons Gavia stellata (the
latter vernacular name has been adopted from New World terminology for the
officially recognised British List by the British Ornithological Union) were
taken in very unforgiving lighting conditions on Shetland where this elegant
bird is a reasonably common breeding species, utilising the many small and
often remote lakes on these islands. Most of the images have been
software-adjusted in order to convert them from silhouettes and show some of
the colour and patterning although the fifth image has been left unadulterated
in order to illustrate a pair of these birds as they were actually seen. The
courtship sequence of these birds (on land) is said to be an event that is only
rarely witnessed so although these images were taken in dull and wet conditions
and from a considerable distance necessitating severe cropping and the use of
high ISO settings they have been included for interest. The final three
photographs are of a juvenile Red-throated Diver that turned up way off course
in Regent’s Park, London at the end of October 2019. This bird managed to
become trapped in a grille and as it was underweight and not feeding properly
it was taken into temporary captivity in the hope that it could be fed and
regain its strength prior to being released off the East Norfolk coast. As may
be seen from the photographs it didn’t seem to enjoy being netted! The bird made
a good recovery and the Royal Parks’ Conservation Officer Tony Duckett was able
to release it successfully in early November. The pictures have been included
here as they give an unusually close view of this normally shy and elusive species,
albeit during the process of being rescued. With thanks to Tim Stenton of
Shetland Wildlife for making the arrangements to see the Shetland birds.
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