Wintering Divers along Eastbourne’s coast

Divers are aquatic birds the size of a small goose. They are named after their habit of diving to feed on small fish and can spend up to a minute submerged. In the UK they are a scarce breeding bird in NW Scotland, and in Canada and North America they are known as ‘loons’, due to their eerie wailing cries. In the breeding season, divers have either black or red patches on their necks, and speckled backs, but in winter turn a plainer grey above and silvery white below.

During the winter of 2021-22 a team of ecologists working for the Pevensey to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme carried out a survey of wintering birds along the coastline, with counts carried out at low and high tides. Two species of diver were observed – the larger Great Northern Diver (73-88 cm from bill tip to tail tip) and the smaller Red-throated Diver (63-75 cm).

A single Great Northern Diver was seen in December and February, where it frequented the outer part of Sovereign Harbour, and was believed to be the same individual each time. Local records suggest that this bird overwintered in the same location. In Sussex the Great Northern Diver is a scarce winter visitor and passage migrant (Sussex Bird Report, 2020).

Photo: Great Northern Diver in breeding plumage (birdspot.co.uk)Red-throated Divers were seen during many of the monthly survey visits throughout the period. Peak counts were 27 on 19 January (high tide) and 19 on 26 January (low tide). All records were of birds offshore, either sitting on the sea, or flying past. In Sussex the Red-throated Diver is a fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant (Sussex Bird Report, 2020).

Photo: Red-throated Diver in winter plumage (www.wildlifeinsight.com)

Both species of diver are specially protected by their inclusion on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981).