Shore Birds in Late December 



pheasants " — a local name for the long-tailed duck-=— are 

 numerous this morning, probably owing to the fact that the 

 heavy swell is stirring up the shell-fish on which they feed. 

 On one occasion a duck alights between two drakes, where- 

 upon one of the latter stretches out his neck apparently call- 

 ing, but his musical whistle is drowned in the roar of the surf. 



Near them two red-throated divers in winter plumage 

 are diving. They remain under water nearly twice as long 

 as the long-tailed duck, but usually emerge with empty bill. 

 Eventually one comes to the surface having captured a good- 

 sized flounder. This fish, from its shape, proves an unwieldy 

 billfuU for its captor, which makes many unsuccessful 

 attempts to swallow its prize. Periodically it shakes the fish 

 vigorously, then dives with it, apparently finding it more 

 easy to manipulate under water. In the end I leave the bird 

 still struggling with its victim. 



Some distance out to sea a great northern diver is swim- 

 ming gracefully, at times lying over in the water to preen it^ 

 breast sleepily. The largest of the diver tribe, the great 

 northern diver is a wonderful swimmer and diver, and, 

 although rarely taking wing, its flight is powerful and very 

 rapid. It probably remains submerged longer than any other 

 bird, and also dives to a greater depth. An instance is given 

 by Howard Saunders of a great northern diver being caught 

 in a net set at a depth of thirty fathoms — i8o feet, and a case 

 is on record of this bird remaining submerged for a period 

 of no less than ten minutes ! 



It is interesting to realize that the true divers — by which 

 I mean the great northern, red-throated and black-throated 

 species — can be distinguished even at a distance from the 

 cormorant, which bird they somewhat resemble when swim- 

 ming on the water, by their method of diving. The cor- 

 morant dives somewhat clumsily, springing into the air 

 before submerging and leaving behind it a noticeable splash. 

 The true divers, and especially the great northern species, on 

 the other hand, disappear quietly and without fuss, leaving 



i8g 



