Divers & Grebes
Also known as Loons, there are only 5 species of Divers in the World all of the Family Gaviidae, and all 5 have been seen in the UK.
Pacific diver has yet to be placed on the British List, but it can only be a matter of time. Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern are all seen off the Cornish coast during the winter months. White-billed is a very rare vagrant to Cornwall, although a very obliging and long staying moulting bird graced Hayle Estuary for several months in 2007. All species are large sea-going birds that swim low in the water, rather like Cormorants .... long body and neck, but they differ from Cormorants in being tailless.
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There are 19 species of Grebe in the World, but only 6 have occurred in the UK. Of these, the American vagrant Pied-billed Grebe is the rarest. A male settled at Stithians reservoir in the late 1990's and mated with a Little Grebe to produce hybrid young, but none of these birds have survived. Slavonian, Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes over winter in small numbers off the coast of Cornwall and occasionally also found in the reservoirs of the county. Little Grebe is found all year round in Cornwall and breeds in small numbers. Great-crested breed here, but are generally absent during the winter months.
Photos
Divers
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Grebes