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Bird Report 1998 21
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica (b,w)
S Trossachs: 2 pairs on 2 lochs in breeding season, 1 nest failed & 1 had 1Y. 2 on
3rd site 7 Aug (DOE DJC). 1 G.Dochart 3 May (DAC).
PIED-BILLED GREBE Podilymbus podiceps
S Adult Airthrey Loch 3,4, & 5 June (probably present to 7th).
K. Ranson detected, described and photographed the bird; the results were
passed on to the British Birds Rarities Committee and the record accepted. This
species is a rare vagrant from North America (24 UK records to 1997) and this is
the first record for the area.
The bird was in size close to a juvenile Coot, larger than a Dabchick and with a
relatively larger head and a thicker neck. The bird’s rear end was blunt but the
short tail seemed to jut upward at times rather than showing a rounded profile.
The legs and spread wings were not seen.
The bill was stout, in colour – a very pale bluish-grey with a broad black vertical
band across its middle. There was a distinct pale eye-ring. There was a welldefined
black patch on the throat but this colour did not extend down the front
of the neck.The underside of the tail was white.The rest of the plumage was
greyish brown, the crown of the head, dorsal side of neck, back, and wings
being slightly darker and more rufous than the flanks and what could be seen
of the chest. The flanks appeared to be faintly barred.
The bird was seen only on the open water and was observed feeding and
preening. It dived frequently in a conventional manner but was also seen to be
able to submerge by apparently altering its buoyancy and sinking. It seemed to
do this when disturbed rather than when feeding. On several occasions it
surfaced holding unidentified material in its bill and once with a 2-3” roach
which it swallowed. It did not seem to be particularly wary of humans and on
one occasion KR was able to get to within 25 feet before it submerged as
described above.
LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis (B,w)
F Skinflats: max 3 on 29 Jan, last on 10 Feb (GO). Kinneil: max 3 on 11 Jan to 2 Mar
& 3 on 19 Sep to 23 Dec (DMB AB AS DT). 2 prs with 3Y Falkirk (MA).
14 Drumbowie Res 8 Oct (NB).
C Pr Cambus Pools in Apr (WRB CJH). 17 Gartmorn Dam 20 Oct & 19 on 12 Nov
(MC).
S At 7 sites in breeding season (DAC WRB PWS CJH DT). 9 L.Voil & 12 L.Dochart
on 22 Sep (NB).
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus (b,W)
26 Forth Estuary in Nov (DMB).
F 100 Kinneil 25 Jan but few in autumn, 4 on 15 Jul & max 20 on 19 Sep & 23 on
1 Nov (AB DT DMB).
C 14 Gartmorn 3 Jan, 13 on 15 Mar (DAC MC).
S 3 Prs Carron Valley Res 17 May (WRB). 2 Lake of Menteith 11 Jan, 18 on 24 Mar
(DAC). At 5 other sites in breeding season (PWS WRB CJH).
*FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis (p)
F 1 Skinflats 5 Apr & 12 Sep (AB GO). 1 Kinneil 23 May, 4 on 1 Aug, max 6 on 15th,
last on 19 Sep (DT).
GANNET Sula bassana (p)
F 27 Juv ->W Skinflats 20 Sep, 1 on 4 Oct (GO DMB). 1 Juv Kinneil 4 Sep & 4 on
19th (left E) (AB DT).
S Flying W: 2 Juv Lecropt on 13 Sep & 9 on 14th (DT).