Category
A
Status
Scarce
Breeding status
First Record
Last Recorded

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata


Red-throated Diver photographed at Rocquaine [ROC] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Dave Carre
  Red-throated Diver photographed at Rocquaine [ROC] on 16/12/2022 Photo: © Dave Carre (visit site)

Although this is the commonest diver in Britain and the UK with a winter population estimated at 15,000 the species is the rarest of the three in local waters.

In 1878,Smith described this species as a "regular and autumn and winter visitant to the Islands, and rather the most common of the three divers". In recent years the status has changed with only one or two reports mainly from the north and west coast bays. The majority of records involve single birds although three were noted passing west off Jaoneusse on 7th November 1999. A single at the Reservoir from 17th January to 21st March 1997 was almost certainly an injured bird. The species remains rare in Alderney waters with only four records the last being east of the Casquets in April 1989.

Birds are not usually recorded until early December with peak arrival in mid January. There is a second peak towards the end of March which is probably due to birds returning north from the Bay of Biscay. Numbers fluctuate with weather and food supply and significant numbers must pass far offshore.

The origin of the birds in Bailiwick waters is not known although chicks ringed from the Scottish breeding population have been recovered in Finistere and the Vendee.



View all photos (10)
Red-throated Diver photographed at Rocquaine [ROC] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Dave Carre
Red-throated Diver photographed at Rocquaine [ROC] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Dave Carre (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner
Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Belle Greve Bay [BEL] on 6/10/2022. Photo: © Mark Guppy
Red-throated Diver photographed at Belle Greve Bay [BEL] on 6/10/2022. Photo: © Mark Guppy (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome
Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Fort Grey on 6/12/2023. Photo: ©  Rockdweller
Red-throated Diver photographed at Fort Grey on 6/12/2023. Photo: © Rockdweller (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet on 6/12/2023. Photo: © Wayne Turner
Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet on 6/12/2023. Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome
Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner
Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome
Red-throated Diver photographed at Chouet [CHO] on 5/11/2014. Photo: © Vic Froome (visit site)

Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner
Red-throated Diver photographed at Portelet [PET] on 16/12/2022. Photo: © Wayne Turner (visit site)

 


View database records (69)
Red-throated Diver Fort Le Crocq 25/5/1994 1
Red-throated Diver Fort Le Crocq 26/5/1994 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke 30/3/1995 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke 1/4/1995 2/4/1995 1
Red-throated Diver Vazon 17/12/1995 1
Red-throated Diver Perelle 30/12/1995 31/12/1995 1
Red-throated Diver Bellegreve Bay 21/2/1996 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke 24/2/1996 25/2/1996 1
Red-throated Diver Perelle 27/12/1996 1
Red-throated Diver Fort Le Crocq 29/12/1996 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke 4/1/1997 5/1/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Reservoir 17/1/1997 31/1/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Reservoir 1/2/1997 28/2/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Reservoir 1/3/1997 21/3/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Grandes Rocques 31/3/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Cobo 3/4/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Perelle 11/4/1997 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke 13/1/1998 17/1/1998 1-2
Red-throated Diver Bellegreve Bay 16/1/1999 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse 7/11/1999 3
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine 15/1/2000 1
Red-throated Diver Town Harbour 4/3/2000 1
Red-throated Diver Bellegreve Bay 3/12/2000 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse 31/10/2004 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine 16/10/2005 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine 16/10/2005 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet 14/4/2006 1
Red-throated Diver Lancresse Bay 19/11/2010 1
Red-throated Diver Pembroke [PEM] 22/4/2011 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 11/10/2013 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 11/10/2013 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 11/10/2013 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet Hide [CHH] 12/11/2013 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 13/11/2013 2
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 13/11/2013 2
Red-throated Diver Chouet Hide [CHH] 5/11/2014 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet Hide [CHH] 5/11/2014 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet Hide [CHH] 5/11/2014 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet Hide [CHH] 23/11/2014 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 27/12/2014 2
Red-throated Diver Mannez Lighthouse 7/11/2016 1
Red-throated Diver Mannez Lighthouse 1/1/2017 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 15/1/2017 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet [CHO] 19/1/2018 1
Red-throated Diver Chouet [CHO] 19/1/2018 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 27/8/2018 1
Red-throated Diver Belle Greve Bay [BEL] 6/10/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Belle Greve Bay [BEL] 6/10/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 4/11/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 4/11/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 20/11/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 20/11/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Jaonneuse [JAO] 20/11/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Portelet [PET] 16/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Portelet [PET] 16/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 16/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 16/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 17/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 17/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 19/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 19/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 19/12/2022 1
Red-throated Diver Portelet [PET] 2/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 5/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 5/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Portelet [PET] 6/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Fort Grey [FO2] 6/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Fort Grey [FO2] 6/12/2023 1
Red-throated Diver Rocquaine [ROC] 10/12/2023 1