Friday 20 November 2009

PACIFIC DIVER AT CARNSEW POOL



Sitting down after lunch today and I got a phone call from my Friend Mark to say that there was a rare Pacific Diver in Carnsew Pool on the Hayle Estuary. Needles to say as this is only 20mins away I grabed my camera and bins and was off  like a rocket. On arrival I parked the car and took the ten minute walk to where they were standing. It was still there but quite far out, anyway took a lot of pics over the next hour, then it decided to depart. It did a couple of circuits overhead and then head for the mouth of the Estuary. So below are a selection of shots of this fine bird, and some clearly show the black chinstrap whis is the main identifying point for this species. On the way back we stopped and took a few shots of Med Gulls in flight. I also throw in a Curlew for good measure.


9 comments:

  1. Excellent, you must be pleased.
    Sam

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  2. Nice one, Monty.
    Isn`t the lack of a white flank patch also a id feature ?

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  3. Yes it is Dean, I just try to keep it simple and visable where possible for people who just have a passing interest.

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  4. What a thrill for you Monty! You got some great photos too. Needless to say I have never seen one, mind you I have never seen a Curlew either and I'm ashamed to say I wouldn't have known that was a Mediterranean Gull. I would have probably thought it was a Black Headed Gull!

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  5. Excellent flight shots. The vent strap also shows well. Well done mate.

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  6. Great capture Monts. Strangely enough I cannot find it in Bird Guide or others I have. Is it a newly recognised species?

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  7. Hi Watcher
    No this species hails from East Siberia and Alaska/Canada and winters in the Pacific. Have a look at Swoptics blog as Steve has done a good write up on it.

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