White-billed Diver

Gaviidae

Sep 8

Written By Keith Naylor

Gavia adamsii (Gray, JR, 1859) (8, 12)

Photo © Graham Catley

Ex BBRC species 31/12/2008

STATUS

Holarctic. Monotypic.

OVERVIEW

A review of previous records was carried out in 1974 by D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (British Birds, 67: 257-296).

However, there are two additional records to the review, one in 1890 in Highland and another in 1891 in North-east Scotland, both recently found in museums early in the 21st century.

RECORDS

1). 1829 Northumberland Near Embleton, adult, shot, December, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

(P. J. Selby, Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society 1: 244-290; H. Seebohm, Zoologist 1885: 144; Bolam, 1912; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; Witherby, 1920-24).

History P. J. Selby (1831) in the Transactions of the Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Natural History Society, Vol. I. p. 284, under 'Northern Diver', says: '...another matured specimen, also in the Museum, was shot near Embleton.'

Henry Seebohm (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. pp. 144-145, says: '... A second British-killed example, also in winter plumage, is in the museum at Newcastle, and Mr. Hancock assures me that it was shot on the Northumberland coast, although the precise date is unknown.'

Bolam (1912: 673) says: 'An example was shot near Embleton, Northumberland, in December, 1829, and presented by Mr. G. Davidson to the Newcastle Museum, where it is still preserved. It is in winter plumage, and, curiously enough, was referred to by Selby in his Catalogue, although not then distinguished from the Great Northern Diver Gavia immer, from which its most obvious distinction is in the colour and form of the bill, and its slightly superior size.'

H. F. Witherby (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 9-10, says: 'By the kindness of those in possession of the specimens I have been able to obtain sufficient details of some to determine the species and the result is that two in any case are Colymbus adamsii. Details of the specimens and records are as follow: 1. Colymbus adamsii. - December 1829, near Embleton, Northumberland, now in the Hancock collection, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Mr. E. Leonard Gill, curator of the Hancock Museum, has very kindly sent me a photograph (here reproduced) of this bird from which it is clear by the characteristic shape of the bill that it is an example of C. adamsii. Mr. Gill also informs me that the shafts of the primaries are nearly white, except just at the tips, where they are dark brown. In the Great Northern Diver the shafts are dark brown throughout.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record, and say: '...this mount is at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.'

2). 1830 or 1832 Northumberland Holy Island, adult, shot, undated.

(Bolam, 1912; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83).

History Bolam (1912: 674) says: 'It is rather curious coincidence that, about the same year [1829], between 1830 and 1832, though the exact date is uncertain - the Grandfather of the present writer shot a Great Northern Diver, in the harbour at Holy Island, in full summer plumage, "with an ivory white bill", and which he regarded as the largest specimen he had ever seen. A yet more remarkable circumstance regarding it, was that, in May, 1902, Joseph Shell, the then oldest inhabitant on the Island, surprised me by recounting the almost forgotten incident, inquiring if the bird had passed into my possession, and informing me that he himself was rowing the boat at the time, bringing my grandfather, and his son (my father), from the Old Law to the Island. He finished his narrative, quite unprompted, by declaring that he had "never known a Lyon with so white a bill, and remembered it as if it were yesterday".

I regret to say that the specimen had passed out of existence before my collection of birds had begun, and little more than a personal and sentimental value now attaches to the record.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record.

Comment It was accepted on this description in the 1974 review. However, Witherby (1922) in his review of the species, who must have read Bolam (1912), makes no mention of this record.

3). 1852 Suffolk Pakefield, adult, shot, spring, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. no. 15.935).

(P. L. Sclater, Proceedings of the Zoological Society 27: 206-207; H. Seebohm, Zoologist 1885: 144-145; J. H. Gurney, jun., Ibis 1889: 572-574; Southwell, 1890; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; Witherby, 1920-24; Ticehurst, 1932; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; Payn, 1978).

History P. L. Sclater (1859) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, part 27. pp. 206-207, says: 'On showing to Mr. J. H. Gurney the specimen of the supposed new Diver (Colymbus adamsi, G. R. Gray), belonging to Mr. Barrow, and exhibited at the last meeting of the Society, that gentleman informed me that he had a somewhat similar bird in his own collection, killed off the coast of Norfolk. Mr. Gurney has kindly ordered this specimen to be sent up for the inspection of the Society.

As it is in winter plumage, no comparison can be made relative to the white markings of the neck and scapularies; but in respect of the thickened and whitened bill, it entirely agrees with Colymbus adamsi. In the British Gallery of the British Museum I have also noticed an example of the Great Northern Diver in which the bill has become partially white. Upon the whole, therefore, I am inclined to agree with Mr. Gurney's views that this is the effect of age, the bill becoming thickened and whitened in the very adult birds, and that we cannot use this character as a ground of difference to separate C. adamsi from C. glacialis.

It remains, however, yet to be proved that the other characters assigned by Mr. G. R. Gray to his C. adamsi are not of sufficient importance to maintain that species as distinct. As there might be some doubt raised as to whether Mr. Gurney's specimen was really shot on the English coast, I subjoin the following letter, which seems to set that question at rest: - "My dear Sir, - I have been endeavouring to verify the facts respecting the White-billed Diver. "It was shot on the beach, or from the beach, at Pakefield, on the coast of Suffolk, and was brought in the flesh to Mr. Scales, a gentleman living in Pakefield, who sent it to Mr. Thirtle, a birdstuffer at Lowestoft, to preserve for him. I saw it at Thirtle's, and wrote to Mr. Scales to say that I should like to possess it, when he very kindly gave it to me as a present. I am sorry to find that I have no exact memorandum of the date when it was procured, but believe it to have been in the early spring, about seven years since".'

Not admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds who state that it is now regarded by Dr. Coues as a mere variety of Colymbus glacialis (BOU 1883: 201).

Henry Seebohm (1885) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. IX. p. 144, says: 'There can be little doubt that the White-billed Diver is perfectly distinct from the Great Northern Diver, and has as much claim to be regarded as a British bird as other more or less accidental visitors to our islands. It was first discovered about the year 1830 by Capt. James Clark Ross...In 1852 a British example was shot at Pakefield, on the Suffolk coast, in early spring, and is now in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, at Northrepps Hall, near Cromer. It is in winter plumage (Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc., 1859, p. 167).'

Babington (1884-86: 246) says: 'A specimen in winter plumage obtained at Pakefield, near Lowestoft, in the spring of 1852; in Mr. J. H. Gurney's Collection (mentioned incidentally above under Great Northern Diver, as a variety).'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1889) in The Ibis, Vol. I. 6th series, pp. 572-573, dated 28th June 1889, believed it to be a mere variety through evolution of species but added that it was in his father's collection.

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 268) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, says: 'Adams's Diver (Colymbus adamsi). An example of this form of the great northern diver, now in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, at Northrepps, given to him by the late Mr. Abraham Scales, of Pakefield, which had partially acquired the breeding dress on the back and wing coverts, was killed off Pakefield, near Lowestoft, in the early spring of 1852, and was exhibited at a meeting of the Zoological Society (Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 1859, p. 206).'

Details of the specimens and records are as follow: 2. C. adamsii. - Spring 1852, Pakefield, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, now in Mr. J. H. Gurney's collection. Mr. Gurney kindly provides a photograph of the bill, from which it is clear that this bird also is C. adamsii. As the bird is cased, Mr. Gurney has been unable to examine its primary-shafts.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record, and added: 'It is in the Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. no. 15.935) as a mount. Also, the plate in Babington (1884-86) is not of this bird, as Harting (1901) claimed, but depicts the pre 1886 Suffolk specimen which was rejected.'

4). 1890 Highland Coastal locality, Sutherland, juvenile male, obtained, January, specimen now at National Museums Scotland (NMSZ 1890.33).

(R. Y. McGowan, Scottish Birds 31: 315-317, plates 264-265, 267-268; T. ap Rheinallt, C. J. McInerny, R. Y. McGowan & J. J. Sweeney, Scottish Birds 32: 112).

History R. Y. McGowan (2011) in Scottish Birds, Vol. XXXI. pp. 315-317, says: 'During the closure of the exhibition galleries at NMS in 2008, a closer examination of a certain few of the specimens was held. In the ledger of Erskine St Clair Steele it is stated a juvenile male diver was collected on the Sutherland coast in January 1890 and henceforth, donated to the Museum. During this examination it was proved to be a White-billed Diver.'

5). 1891 North-east Scotland Locality unknown, Aberdeenshire, adult, shot, 17th December, now at Chelmsford Museum, Essex (CHMER E13541).

(Eds., Birding Scotland 6 (4): 150; N. Green, Scottish Birds 25: 59-60; P. A. A. Baxter, North-east Scotland Bird Report 2003: 100; R. W. Forrester, Scottish Birds 25: 60-61; Wood, 2007; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History Ron Forrester (SBRC Secretary) in Birding Scotland, Vol. VI. p. 150, stated that this record has been accepted.

R. W. Forrester (2005) in Scottish Birds, Vol. XXV. pp. 59-61, says: 'Nick Green and fellow authors of a new Birds of Essex visited Chelmsford Museum, Essex, to view the collection of the Museum and were also aware of a sketch of a Great Northern Diver bill drawn by the late Stan Hudgell (1935-2002) which they suspected was of this species. On examination of the specimen (catalogue number E13541) the identification was confirmed as an adult White-billed Diver moulting from summer into winter plumage, and from the collection of George Palmer Hope, of Essex, whose notes stated it was taken at Aberdeen on 17th December 1891. Following further investigation by Bob McGowan (SBRC Museum Consultant) and Dr. Alan Knox (University of Aberdeen), fraud was ruled out and Hope was considered a reputable collector who stuffed his own birds and this specimen was considered to be stuffed by him after comparisons of his other work.'

Comment Aberdeen was considered to be the county and not the exact locality. It was accepted by SBRC in September 2003.

6). 1916 Yorkshire Scarborough, adult, seen, 29th February to 2nd March.

(W. J. Clarke, Naturalist 42: 217-219; A. J. Wallis and Eds., British Birds 45: 422, 423; Chislett, 1952; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; Mather, 1986).

History W. J. Clarke (1916) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XLII. pp. 217-219, says: 'The prolonged period of strong off-sea winds experienced on the Yorkshire coast during the latter part of February and early part of March, 1916, brought great numbers of sea birds to the shelter of the coast, where they congregated in the harbours and quiet places until the gale subsided.

At Scarborough, the effect of the storm upon the birds was very marked. Great quantities of gulls congregated in the South Bay, where at times their numbers must have reached many thousands. These thronged the harbour, and sat in rows upon the piers and the roof of the fish market waiting for the usual offal to be thrown overboard to them. But as the trawlers could not get out to sea, there was no food thus supplied, and a considerable number of the birds perished in consequence.

Every day, during the latter part of the gale, dead and dying gulls could be seen floating in the harbours. On March 6th, during a couple of miles walk along the south beach, I picked up eleven dead gulls; on the 7th I found eight, and on March 9th seventeen fresh corpses were seen. These included Herring Gulls, Black-headed and Common Gulls, and a single Great Black-backed Gull. None bore trace of any injury, and a rough post-mortem showed in every specimen examined, that the body was extremely emaciated, and the stomach contained no traces of food. Together with the bodies of the gulls were the recently dead remains of many Razorbills, nearly all adult birds, no doubt just returning to their breeding stations at the Speeton and Gristhorpe Cliffs, a few Guillemots, including a single Ringed Guillemot, several Puffins, a few Little Auks and a single Fulmar Petrel.

At one time the presence of so many corpses would have brought forth strictures upon "the man with the gun", but as not a shot has been fired upon our coast since the commencement of the war, other reasons must be sought, and I am satisfied that the cause of death in almost all cases was starvation. A visit paid to the harbour during this period of wild weather was full of interest.

In addition to the crowds of gulls, there were other avian visitors awaiting the return of quieter times. A little group of seven Shags - two adults and five immature birds - was a conspicuous feature, and as these usually shy birds were very tame, an excellent opportunity of watching their ways was afforded....Several Little Auks....

On February 29th, learning of the presence in the harbour on the previous day of a very large diver, I walked down and saw what at first I took to be a Great Northern Diver. On the approach of the bird, however, I formed another conclusion, but in consequence of the military prohibition of the use of field glasses, I had none with me and was obliged to come away in a state of uncertainty as to the visitor's real identity.

On the following day, I was again there and found the bird diving in the rough surf close inshore, where it appeared impossible for it to be washed ashore. After a while it approached the pier very closely and from a sheltered nook, I was able to get a good look at it with my glasses, and to confirm the opinion I had formed on the previous day, that it was an adult specimen of the White-billed Northern Diver (Colymbus adamsi).

At a distance of less than twenty yards, I could see the bird as if I held it in my hand, and the yellowish white bill, upper and lower mandibles the same colour, the latter much upcurved and giving the bill a distinctly turned-up appearance, quite different from the bayonet-shaped bill of the commoner form, was very distinct. There was a very slight brownish tint at the extreme end of the upper mandible which appeared to be due to abrasion of the cuticle at that part. The spots on the back were arranged in a similar pattern to those on the Great Northern Diver, but were larger individually and considerably fewer in number, in colour a light ash grey. The feathers of the back and wings bore no light margins, hence I concluded the bird was adult. In size, I estimated it to be slightly larger than the biggest Great Northern I have handled, which was a specimen weighing 10 lbs. Although so large a bird, it was very remarkable to note the graceful way in which it dived.

During the couple of hours I had it under observation it was continually descending in search of food. This operation was performed by dipping the head quietly under water, and the body submerged without the slightest disturbance, as if drawn beneath by an invisible force. The contrast to the acrobatic feats of Shags feeding close at hand, was very striking, and even the accomplished performance of a Red-throated Diver near by was clumsy by comparison.

I did not see it catch a fish, but it several times brought up large shapeless lumps of what appeared to be fish offal which had been buried in the mud, and these were swallowed. On one occasion, it brought to the surface what I took to be a crab, but was not quite sure.

After three days' sojourn the bird disappeared, and I did not see it again. Nor could I hear of it from any of the pier men, all of whom had noticed it on account of its great size.'

Admitted locally (Chislett 1952: 220) and Mather (1986) who says: 'Seen by W. J. Clarke in Scarborough Harbour at close range, who noted all the salient features and recorded them in The Naturalist, 1916: 217-219.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record.

Comment Witherby (1922) in his review of the species, who must have read The Naturalist, makes no mention of this record.

7). 1946 Shetland Whiteness Voe, Mainland, adult, found dead, 21st January, skull now at Oxford University Museum.

(L. S. V. & U. M. Venables & B. W. Tucker, British Birds 40: 112-113, plate II; Eds., British Birds 45: 423-424; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Pennington et al., 2004).

History L. S. V. & U. M. Venables & B. W. Tucker (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. pp. 112-113, say: 'On January 21st, 1946, a dead White-billed Northern Diver Colymbus [Gavia] adamsii was found by the Venables washed up at the head of Whiteness Voe, Shetland. It was not possible to preserve the bird, but it was examined and measured on the spot and the skull was cleaned and sent to Tucker, who identified it. It is now deposited in the Oxford University Museum.

Only two definitely reliable records of this species for the British Isles are recorded in The Handbook of British Birds (Vol. IV. p. 118). (cf. also Witherby, Brit. Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 9-12). The bird had been dead for several days and, though the cold weather had kept it fairly fresh, the colours of the soft parts may have changed. It was not sexed.

The mantle and scapulars showed a few big white spots, and there were rows of small white spots on the lesser, median and greater wing-coverts. The tail-feathers were tipped with various shades of smoke-grey and light grey-brown, instead of with white as in the adult. The combination of immature tail-feathers with some feathers of the breeding plumage on the upper-parts evidently indicates a bird in its second winter, since the adult breeding plumage is not assumed till the second year.

Witherby states in The Handbook that in the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus [Gavia] immer), with which the species agrees closely in most respects, 'the juvenile plumage is only partially moulted in December and January, many juvenile body feathers being retained, also all primaries and secondaries and most wing-coverts...sometimes whole tail, but often only part.' The present bird, however, would appear to have retained the juvenile tail-feathers into January of the second winter, unless the new tail-feathers after the first post-juvenile moult are occasionally more or less like the juvenile ones and not invariably 'as adult winter' (i.e. tipped white), as stated in The Handbook.

An examination of a larger series than has been available to us (B.W.T.) would be necessary to throw light on this point. The bill (see Plate n, fig. 2) shows well the characteristics of C. adamsii, the almost straight outline of the upper mandible, the more pronounced gonys, and the flatter, less rounded sides of the upper mandible as compared with C. immer. The horny sheath was noted in the flesh as white, slightly tinged yellow, pale horn at upper base and slightly blue-tinged at lower base.

At a distance it looked quite white: more so than does that in the photograph of the immature Colymbus i. immer in Coward, Vol. III. p. 238. The tarsi were dusky outside, and white, slightly tinged yellow, inside.

The following measurements were taken in the flesh: Beak; front end of nostril (i.e. the hole, not the bevel) to tip of beak, 77 mm. The range given in The Handbook is 60-80 mm., as against 53-70 in C. immer. End of feathering to tip of beak, 96 mm. Tarsus: 103 mm. [Probably this measurement was not taken strictly by The Handbook method, as the maximum Handbook figure is 96 mm., or 98 for C. immer (B.W.T.)]. Tarsus plus the longest toe stretched out flat: 213 mm. Wing: 385 mm. cf. Handbook, 360-395 mm. 385 is the maximum measurement quoted for immer, except for one case (male) of 408 mm. Wing tip to body: 63 cm. Total span: 152.5 cm. Tip of beak to tip of tail: 81.5 cm. Tip of beak to tip of longest toe: 100.5 mm.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record.

A. T. Macmillan (1975) in Scottish Birds, Vol. VIII. pp. 377-379, under 'Scottish records of the White-billed Diver', in acknowledging the review (Burn & Mather 1974), list this as an acceptable record.

8). 1947 Shetland Weisdale Voe, Mainland, adult, seen, 8th June.

(L. S. V. & U. M. Venables, British Birds 40: 282; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History L. S. V. & U. M. Venables (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. p. 282, say: 'During the afternoon of June 8th, 1947, an adult White-billed Diver in full breeding plumage swam slowly past our house on the shore of Weisdale Voe, Shetland.

Excellent views were obtained through 12 x 50 binoculars in clear sunlight at a distance of 50-60 yards. The large, tip-tilted bill appeared more 'cream-yellow' than 'cream-white' and was extremely conspicuous at that range; in fact it could be seen with the naked eye. The white spots on the upper parts, larger than those of Great Northern Diver Gavia immer, were also noted.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, admitted this record.

1950-57 RECORDS

9). 1950 Shetland Off White Hill, Yell, adult, early May.

(Venables & Venables, 1955; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History Venables & Venables (1955) say: 'Early May 1950. Adult. Off White Hill, Yell (W. Sinclair).' D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, say: 'This bird is known to have been in full breeding plumage. W. Sinclair, first officer of the Earl of Zetland, saw the bird from the boat. Later, his report to L.S.V.V. was something like this: "I've just seen a most unusual immer-goose - it had a massive white bill stuck up in the air" (L.S.V.V. verbally).'

Comment Wm. Sinclair also saw one in May 1953 which was rejected!

10). 1952 Yorkshire Scarborough, adult, found dead, oiled, 30th January, photo.

(A. J. Wallis, British Birds 45: 421-422; Eds., British Birds 45: 424; A. J. Wallis, Naturalist 77: 105-106; Chislett, 1952; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285, plate 44; Mather, 1986).

History A. J. Wallis (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 421-422, says: 'On January 30th, 1952, a White-billed Northern Diver (Colymbus adamsii) was found dead on the sands at Scarborough, Yorkshire, by Mr. Eric Sigston, and was brought to me for identification. The bird had obviously died through the fouling of its feathers with oil, and it was in a terrible condition when found. It was quite impossible to preserve the whole skin, but the head and feet were kept, and photographed.

It was the beak which immediately attracted attention, as it was of the white colour characteristic of this species, and also had the straight line of the upper mandible, and upcurved tilt of the lower. The white shaded to a dark horn colour at the base. The feet and tarsi were dark on the outside, and pale on the inside. The webs were dark around the edges and pink in the centre, whilst the tops of the toes were pale grey. The bill was broken at the tip of the upper mandible, and the 2nd and 3rd primaries were missing from each wing, presumably due to moulting. The bird was 33 inches in length from tip of bill to tip of tail. Most of the body feathers were coated with oil but it was noted that the white spots on the upper-parts were largely concentrated on the wing-coverts and secondaries, with a few on the scapulars, the mantle being unspotted.

In The Handbook only two records of this species are admitted as authentic, and no mention is made of the specimen seen in Scarborough Harbour on February 29th, 1916, by the late W. J. Clarke [vide, The Naturalist, 1916, pp. 217-219).

In support of this record, I quote from W. J. Clarke's personal notes which are at present in my possession: "During a storm in the last week of February, 1916, many birds came into the shelter of the piers (Scarborough Harbour) including a specimen of the White-billed Northern Diver (Colymbus adamsii).

I first saw this bird within 15 yards of the pier and had a good view of it for about an hour on February 29th. On March 1st, the bird was still there and I examined it closely with binoculars at a distance of about 30 yards. The massive bill, upcurved and of a pale yellowish-white colour, and the large white spots on the back, distinguished the species. The feathers of the back and wings were not fringed with grey, hence I concluded it would be an adult. Note - the white spots on the back were really greyish-white - much larger than the similar spots on C. glacialis (=immer). It was a very large bird and sat higher out of the water than the other divers. I had the opportunity of comparing it with Red-throated Divers (C. stellatus) close by. When it dived it seemed to put down its head and sink quietly under water with much less disturbance than that made by the much smaller Red-throated Diver".' Further, p. 424, Wagstaffe produced measurements of this bird.

Admitted by D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1952) in their review of the species (British Birds 67: 285).

11). 1952 Yorkshire Sandsend, near Whitby, adult female, found alive on the shore, oiled, died, 10th February.

(A. B. Walker, British Birds 45: 422; Eds., British Birds 45: 424, plate 84; R. Chislett, Naturalist 77: 107; Chislett, 1952; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 285-286; Mather, 1986).

History A. B. Walker (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 422, says: 'On February 10th, 1952, a diver was brought to me in a badly oiled and exhausted condition. It had been found on the shore at Sandsend, near Whitby, Yorks., during cold wintry weather, two days after a strong N.W. wind. Suspicions of its identity were raised by the colour and shape of the bill, and measurements showed that it was probably a White-billed Northern Diver (Colymbus adamsii). It was hoped that, after being cleaned and fed, it could be released. R. M. Garnett saw it the following morning, but it died a little later.

Comparison with the skin at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle, confirmed the identification. It is interesting to note that the bird - an adult female - entirely lacked primaries and was apparently moulting from winter to summer plumage, although few feathers on the back had other than small, white spots.

The skin is available for examination at the Museum, Whitby. The bird weighed 6 lb. 4 ozs. when first examined; its bill was a horn colour with a yellowish tinge, shading, on the top mandible only, to a dark grey-brown above and behind the nostrils. After a few weeks this colouring changed completely and could be described as white, shading to dark brown at the base of both mandibles. Its feet and tarsi were a dark grey-brown on the outside and pale grey-flesh on the inside, and on the webs.

When the bird was alive, the last had a pinkish tinge.'

[We have received very full details of these two [Yorkshire] records, including measurements and photographs, and a report by Mr. R. Wagstaffe of the Liverpool Museum on his examination of the skins. Some mention of the measurements is made below [p. 424], and one of the photographs, taken by Mr. Walker while the Sandsend bird was still alive, is reproduced on plate 84 (upper).... - Eds.]

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. pp. 285-286, say: 'A short report in the Whitby Gazette, 14th March 1952, indicates that the skin of this record was confirmed by the British Museum as adamsii. Although the report goes on to say that the specimen would be housed in Whitby Museum, it cannot now be found in the collection and is presumed lost (A.B.W. in litt.)....'

12). 1952 Angus & Dundee Monifieth Bay, Angus, adult, found dead, 24th February, now at Dundee Museum.

(G. B. Corbet, Scottish Naturalist 64: 119-120; Eds., British Birds 45: 423, 424, plate 83; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Crighton, 1976).

History G. B. Corbet (1952) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXIV. pp. 119-120, says: 'On the shore at Monifieth, Angus, on 24th February 1952, I found the body of a diver, which, on careful examination, turned out to be a White-billed Northern Diver Colymbus adamsii. It was badly oiled.

The bill was yellowish-white shading to horn-colour at the base of the upper mandible and blue-grey at the base of the lower. The upper mandible was almost straight, while the lower one was distinctly angled, giving the general appearance of a slightly upturned bill. The size of the bill, and the white shafts of the primaries, also distinguished it from the Great Northern Diver C. immer. The measurements taken were: Bill from nostril (hole, not groove) to tip 80 mm. (exposed culmen 95.5 mm.); chord of wing 388 mm.; tail 69 mm.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 286, add: '...skull and rhamphotheca, both wings and one foot are now at Dundee Museum, no. 1971.284.'

13). 1952 Lothian Dirleton, adult, 24th February.

(R. G. Thin, Scottish Naturalist 64: 120-121; Eds., British Birds 45: 423; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Andrews, 1986).

History Russell G. Thin (1952) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXIV. pp. 120-121, says: 'On 24th February 1952 I noticed a diver off the shore at Dirleton, East Lothian. The bird was about fifty yards out and, even to the naked eye, the appearance of the bill attracted attention. After watching through binoculars (x 12) I came to the conclusion that this was a White-billed Northern Diver Colymbus adamsii.

The following description was noted. Size as for Great Northern Diver Colymbus immer; upper parts and top of head dark brown; back of neck dark brown shading to light brown in front; throat below this and rest of underparts white; bill whitish, apparently upturned and very large. The bill was most striking and, as mentioned, this feature was plainly visible to the naked eye, giving the impression of being so large as to be out of all proportion to the size of the bird. To the naked eye also the upturned appearance was clearly visible.'

[These two White-billed Northern Divers were recorded at different places on the same day.... - Editors.]

14). 1952 Shetland Geo of Blovid, off Levenwick, Mainland, adult, 8th June.

(Eds., British Birds 45: 423; Venables & Venables, 1955; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History The Editors (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. p. 423, say: 'The Scottish Naturalist (loc. cit.) also refers to the White-billed Northern Diver that was found dead at the head of Whiteness Voe, Shetland, on January 21st, 1946, by Mr. and Mrs L. S. V. Venables (antea, Vol. XL. pp. 112-113) and the adult in full plumage that the same observers watched at Weisdale Voe, Shetland, on June 8th, 1947 (ibid. p. 282), and goes on to state that Mr. and Mrs Venables have three other Shetland records, as yet unpublished.

These are: May 21st, 1950, immature at Spiggie Voe. April 24th, 1951, immature in Bay of Scousburgh. June 8th, 1952, adult, Geo of Blovid, Levenwick (seen by Tom Henderson and others).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 286, say: 'No details beyond those given here have ever been published but it would have been impossible to have claimed this record as an adult White-billed Diver in June unless it had been showing an all-white bill. By that date an 'adult' Great Northern Diver (we take it that the observer is implying that the bird was in breeding plumage) would have assumed fully its black bill and we feel that no informed observer would then entertain thoughts of adamsii. Given that this argument is valid, the record is acceptable.'

15). 1953 Yorkshire Hedon Haven, Paull, adult, found exhausted, oiled, 18th February, photo.

(K. Fenton, British Birds 46: 214-215; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286, plate 44; Mather, 1986).

History K. Fenton (1953) in British Birds, Vol. XLVI. pp. 214-215, say: 'A White-billed Diver (Colymbus adamsii) was picked up in an exhausted condition near the mouth of Hedon Haven, Paull, E. Yorkshire, On February 18th, 1953. It was found by Messrs. Bunting and Stathers of Paull and died very shortly afterwards. It was brought to me for identification, but I did not receive it until February 24th and although the viscera had been removed and kept, they were too decomposed by then to allow the sex to be determined. The bird was grimy and slightly oiled.

After a confirmatory examination by G. H. Ainsworth, the skin and, later, the remains of the skeleton were forwarded for preservation to Alfred Hazelwood of the Bolton Museum who has provided the following description of the plumage after cleaning: "Upper-parts generally brownish-grey with a few white-spotted, black feathers newly grown in upper scapulars. Upper wing-coverts black with white spots. Chin, throat and rest of under-parts white, except lower neck which is flecked brown-grey and flanks brown-grey streaked with darker brown-grey. Thighs black-brown, some feathers with paler tips".

Its feet and tarsi were a greyish-umber on the outside, and ivory tinged with blue-grey on the inside, the latter being suffused with pink on the feet while the inner tarsus was pink posteriorly. The characteristically-shaped bill, the lower mandible curving upwards towards the tip, was ivory in colour, shading to horn at the base, this being darker on the upper mandible. The interior of the mouth was very pale flesh-pink, the gape dark blue-grey.

The bird, an adult, was undergoing moult from winter into summer plumage and was most probably incapable of flight. The cause of death was not ascertained, but it seems very probable that oil-poisoning, resulting from preening, drove the bird to seek fresh water and eventually proved fatal.'

[In addition to the details given above we have received very detailed description of the soft parts and full measurements of the bill and tarsus. This is the fourth White-billed Diver to be recorded in Yorkshire, and the thirteenth in Britain. It should be remembered that all but 3 of these 13 occurrences have taken place in the last eight years, 5 of them in 1952 (vide, antea, Vol. XLV. pp. 421-424). - Eds.]

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 286, add: '...study skin now in John R. Mather Collection.'

16.0). 1954 Angus & Dundee/Fife Broughty Ferry, Tay Estuary, 21st January, 14th, 27th and 28th February; also in Perth & Kinross.

(A. Cross, Scottish Naturalist 66: 37-38; D. G. Andrew, R. W. J. Smith & C. Walker, Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 4: 49; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History Alexander Cross of Monifieth (1954) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVI. pp. 37-38, says: 'While watching the birds lying off Broughty Ferry Castle, Angus, on 21st January 1954, I observed a diver well out in the river. It was feeding and gradually working its way inshore. At first I paid no particular attention to it, but when I observed it again a few minutes later I realised that it was something out of the ordinary. It approached to about eighty yards and at that range I was able to examine it with 8x binoculars for nearly 30 minutes. It then moved up river and by changing my position I was eventually able to watch it at fifty yards range for about five minutes before it moved into mid river again.

The crown of the head and back of the neck were dark, almost black, and this dark coloration came well round in front leaving a narrow white front to the neck; the back and wings appeared uniform black; the breast was white. The most noticeable feature was, however, the bill, which was heavy and gave the appearance of being upturned. In colour it was pale ivory-yellow shading to dark horn near the base. The bird was obviously a White-billed Diver Colymbus adamsii.

About 300 yards further west, on 14th February 1954, a White-billed Diver was seen for a few minutes at forty yards range by Gordon B. Corbet, B. Corbet, Len Fullerton, Henry G. Watson, and the writer. All four agree with the identification.

On 28th February 1954, at the Stannergate, Dundee, a White-billed Diver was again observed by the writer at about 100 yards range and was examined with a telescope. It is probable that it was the same bird which was observed on all three occasions.

These three observation points are from two to four miles west of Monifieth Bay where a White-billed Diver was found dead on 24th February 1952...'

D. G. Andrew, R. W. J. Smith & C. Walker (1954) in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin, Vol. IV. p. 49, say: 'A White-billed Diver was seen on the Tay on many occasions during February and we were fortunate to have excellent views of it at Broughty Ferry on the 27th.'

Comment Fife appear to count this as their first record.

16.1). 1954 Perth & Kinross Stannergate, Dundee, Perthshire, 28th February; same as Angus & Dundee.

(A. Cross, Scottish Naturalist 66: 37-38; Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 4: 49; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History Alexander Cross of Monifieth (1954) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVI. pp. 37-38, says: '...On 28th February 1954, at the Stannergate, Dundee, a White-billed Diver was again observed by the writer at about 100 yards range and was examined with a telescope. It is probable that it was the same bird which was observed on all three occasions....'

17). 1955 Moray & Nairn Spey Bay, female, found dead, 5th January, now at Aberdeen University Zoology Department (no. 1955.4.1).

(Eds., Scottish Naturalist 67: 109; E. V. Baxter, Scottish Naturalist 69: 39; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 286; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379).

History The Editors (1955) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVII. p. 109, say: 'On 5th January 1955 a specimen of the White-billed Northern Diver (Gavia adamsii) was received at the Natural History Department, Marischal College, Aberdeen, forwarded by Mr. Alastair M. Raffan, of Fochabers. Mr. Raffan first notified Miss Elisabeth Garden, and in a letter to her written on the 5th he says: "It might interest you to know that when bird watching in the Spey Bay shore area on 2nd January I found the bird dead, well above high water mark. I think it may have come ashore alive and crawled to where I found it before dying. Of course it is possible that the bird was washed ashore dead, and thrown to a higher level by a passer-by. On the left wing there are traces of an oil-like substance, which was probably responsible for the bird's death".

Unfortunately the skin could not be preserved, but the skull with its very characteristic bill has been deposited in the Aberdeen University collection. The bird was examined by Mr. Adam Watson and Dr. Ivan Goodbody, and found to be a female (by dissection) in winter plumage, and probably not in its first-winter. The primaries had whitish shafts....'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 286, add: 'Although the culmen length is probably within both the juvenile and the adult ranges, the bill has a worn and chipped look characteristic of older birds. The tentative age description that was published should therefore be taken to mean 'second-winter or older'.

18.0). 1955 Lothian Aberlady and Gosford Bays, adult, 12th to 17th November.

(F. D. Hamilton & K. C. Hogarth, Scottish Naturalist 68: 57-58; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 287; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Andrews, 1986).

History Frank D. Hamilton & Kathleen C. Hogarth of Edinburgh (1956) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXVIII. pp. 57-58, say: 'While watching geese from the Kilspindie side of Aberlady Bay on the afternoon of the 12th November 1955, we observed a White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) swimming some yards from the rocky shore. As the tide was only half-ebbed we were able to study the large bird swimming and diving in fairly deep water for over three-quarters of an hour, during which time all the main diagnostic features were noted.

The most noticeable character was the large bill, which was mostly dull straw-yellow in colour, though dark at the base, and was decidedly up-tilted. This was due to the lower mandible sloping up from the line of the chin to the tip of the bill in a more or less straight line, with no distinctive angle observed. The forehead, crown and back of neck were very dark, shading to a dirty white on the cheeks and sides of neck; this was continued on to the chin and throat, while the upper breast was pure white. The back colour was very dark, with several large white, or off-white, spots on the mantle and scapulars. These spots could easily be seen a distance, and, together with the bill colour, they indicated that the bird was most probably an adult moulting from summer into winter plumage. While under observation the bird dived continuously and twice was seen to bring up a small fish and splash it about on the calm water.

The following day several other ornithologists, Including Ian Balfour-Paul, Dougal G. Andrew, and Keith S. Macgregor, observed the bird at close range in neighbouring Gosford Bay. The bird, on this occasion, was not noted to dive, but spent most of the time either preening or sitting motionless at the edge of the tide. It was last identified definitely by Ian Hay on the 17th November in Gosford Bay, though other observers recorded a "possible" three days later at the same place....'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 287, add: 'Whether the two phases of sightings were of different birds will always be a matter for conjecture, but there is nothing in the difference in descriptions which is inconsistent with their referring to the same bird at two moult stages and we recommend that they be officially regarded as such.'

18.1). 1956 Lothian Aberlady and Gosford Bays, adult, 19th February to 29th April; same as 1955.

(F. D. Hamilton & K. C. Hogarth, Scottish Naturalist 69: 61; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 287; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Andrews, 1986).

History F. D. Hamilton & K. C. Hogarth (1957) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LXIX. p. 61, say: 'A White-billed Diver (Gavia adamsii) stayed on the Gosford-Aberlady coast, East Lothian, from February to April 1956, in the same area where one was observed (Scot. Nat., 68: 57-58) in November 1955. The immediate question is whether or not it was the same individual. This cannot be decided conclusively, because of the differences in colour of plumage and bill between the November bird and the February one.

On 19th February 1956, with Mr. K. S. Macgregor, we approached very near the diver. There were no large white spots on the plumage, only very small light dots; (the November bird had several large white, or off-white, spots on its back and scapulars). The bill was bluish-green at the base, shading to white at the tip, with only a faint suggestion of yellow; (the bill of the November bird was dull straw-yellow in colour).

Later, on 24th March, Mr. D. G. Andrew noted at close range that the bill colour was a bright varnished yellow on the front of the upper part, and bluish-white underneath. This agreed with a further description made on 8th April, but the following week the bill seemed dull yellow with a darkish base. The colour of the back and scapulars remained the same throughout March and April. On the few occasions when we saw the bird raise itself and flap its wings, heavy moult was apparent, as there were hardly any primaries and only a few well-developed secondaries. On 15th April, through a 40 x telescope, we watched the diver bring up an eel after a long dive. The eel, about a foot long, was held across the bill, and the diver struggled for some time before it finally managed to get the eel's head in its mouth. The eel wrapped itself around the bill, and the bird had great difficulty in swallowing it. The White-billed Diver was seen mainly in Gosford Bay. It was last seen there on 29th April 1956.'

Accepted locally who considered it the same as previous winter (Andrews 1986).

19). 1956 Yorkshire Whitby, adult, found dying, 17th March, now at Whitby Museum.

(R. Chislett & E. W. Taylor, Naturalist 82: 45; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 287).

History R. Chislett & E. W. Taylor (1957) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXXXII. p. 45, say: 'One found in a moribund state at Whitby, died on March 17th (A.B.W.).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 287, say: 'The Whitby Museum houses one mounted specimen of a White-billed Diver. This is known to be one of the two examples found locally (A.B.W. in litt.), though it bears no data and is not catalogued. The appearance and measurements of its bill do not correspond with the details published in ref. 82 of the Sandsend 1952 bird (pages 285-286) which, in any case, was said to have been preserved as a skin, not a mount. Bryan Fewster (verbally) recalls that the mount was returned to Whitby Museum in about 1960, having been sent for preservation to the Hancock Museum.

The evidence seems clear enough to justify relating this mounted specimen to the 1956 record and we must conclude that the Sandsend 1952 bird has been lost. The extreme tip of the upper mandible of this specimen was broken in life and the break is worn smooth. Nonetheless, it projects 5.5 mm beyond the lower. Because of this, and because of the rate at which it is approaching a point, probably only 2 mm are missing. This amount has been added to the measured length to give the 90 mm listed above.'

20). 1957 Lothian Aberlady Bay, adult female, found dead, 13th January, now at National Museums of Scotland (no. 1957/27).

(F. D. Hamilton & K. S. McGregor, Edinburgh Bird Bulletin 7: 39; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 287; A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Andrews, 1986).

History F. D. Hamilton & K. S. McGregor (1957) in the Edinburgh Bird Bulletin Vol. VII. p. 39, say: 'Two dead birds picked up recently have been of some interest. The first was a White-billed Diver found in a fresh condition on 13th January. It had apparently succumbed through oiling. The skin is now at the Royal Scottish Museum.'

NOT PROVEN

0). 1872 Norfolk Hickling Broad, shot, 14th December, now in the Booth Museum, Brighton.

(A. F. Griffith, Zoologist 1896: 14-16; Booth, 1901; Patterson, 1905; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 115).

[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; J. H. Fleming, British Birds 16: 115; Witherby, 1920-24; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 292].

History A. F. Griffith (1896) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. pp. 14-16, says: 'Among a considerable number of uncased birds obtained by the late Mr. E. T. Booth, and presented to the Brighton Museum by his widow since his death, is the specimen referred to by Mr. Howard Saunders on p. 695 of his Manual of British Birds. Acting on the hint there given, the specimen has been carefully compared with others in the British Museum, and there is no doubt to its identification. It was shot by Mr. Booth on Hickling Broad on December 14th, 1872.

His note-book for that period is still extant, though unfortunately all but three were destroyed after his death. An extract, I feel sure, will be interesting, not only on account of the description it contains of this bird, but also as an example of his method of observing and noting facts.

It is a complete copy of the note-book for the eight days from Dec. 9th to 16th: - '14th. All signs of frost vanished. The morning was still, without a breath of air, and the water was as calm as glass. Soon after daybreak I made out a Great Northern Diver on the south part of the Broad. The bird was busily engaged in diving for food, and I was able to scull up near enough to examine all its actions closely with the glasses. When I was between 70 and 80 yards off, it came up with a small Jack of 10 or 12 inches in length in its beak, held crosswise. This it kept shaking, apparently wishing to kill it before swallowing. After the bird had held it for four or five minutes it swam up within 60 yards of where I was, so I fired the big gun. It dived immediately, but soon reappeared on the surface badly wounded, and uttering the most mournful cries I ever heard proceed from the throat of the bird. I soon got close enough for a shot with the shoulder-gun at about 50 yards, which I thought would have ended the matter; but after receiving the charge the bird swam straight to the punt and came at me open-mouthed, scrambling on to the after-deck, and would have come right on board had it not been seized by the neck.

It was an immature specimen, in good condition, weighing 8½ lb.; the beak white, with the exception of a dark mark down the upper ridge extending almost to the point; the inside of the mouth a dirty white; eye a very warm olive-brown; leg, outside black, inside white, edges light grey, toes black, webs white, with veins showing very plain down the centre.'

Booth (1901: 204, 3rd ed.) under 'Great Arctic Diver', Case 324, in his Dyke Road Museum, Brighton, says: 'An immature specimen, shot by the late Mr. Booth, December 14th, 1872, on Hickling Broad. Mr. Booth describes how, after being wounded, first by the punt gun, and then with a shoulder gun, it charged the punt open-mouthed and would have come right on board if it had not been seized and killed.'

Patterson (1905: 261) says: 'Mr. E. T. Booth shot a specimen on Hickling Broad in December 1872.'

H. F. Witherby (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 9-10, says: 'By the kindness of those in possession of the specimens I have been able to obtain sufficient details of some to determine the species and the result is that two in any case are Colymbus adamsii. Details of the specimens and records are as follow: 4. C. immer. - December 1872, Hickling Broad, Norfolk, killed by Booth, and now in the Brighton Museum. Of this bird Mr. A. F. Griffith has kindly sent us a photograph (here reproduced) procured by Mr. Toms the curator, and a cast of the bill as well as a drawing of one of the primaries made by Mr. Brazenor the taxidermist.

From this evidence, so carefully provided by the gentlemen concerned, it is quite clear from the shape of the bill and the dark primary-shaft that this bird has been wrongly identified and is an ordinary Great Northern Diver.'

J. H. Fleming (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XV. p. 115, in a Letter, says: 'Sirs, - In his recent article on the White-billed Northern Diver (antea, pp. 9-12) Mr. H. F. Witherby definitely identifies the Norfolk record now in the Booth Museum, Brighton, as Colymbus immer. That a mistake had been made in identifying this bird as C. adamsii was recognised by Mr. W. R. Oglivie-Grant as far back as 1898; I saw the bird in December of that year and soon afterwards, when examining the series of Divers from the Seebohm Collection in the British Museum, with Mr. Oglivie-Grant, he referred to this record as a case of mistaken identity, saying that the culmen line was always straight in C. adamsii; this proved true in the series in the British Museum.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'On examination it turned out to be a Great Northern Diver Gavia immer.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable. The Dyke Road Museum collection passed to the Booth Museum at Brighton.

0). 1879 Northumberland Holy Island, adult male, shot, January, now at the British Museum.

(Eds., Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 21: 38-39; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, British Birds 1: 294-295; Bolam, 1912).

[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9; Witherby, 1920-24; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 292].

History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. pp. 294-295, says: 'As recorded in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club (Vol. XXI. pp. 38-39) the British Museum has recently acquired two British-killed examples of Divers in remarkably interesting stages of plumage. One of these is an immature specimen of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) in the summer-winter plumage of the second year; the other is a fine adult example of the rare White-billed Northern Diver (C. adamsii), changing from the winter to the summer plumage....

The White-billed Northern Diver was presented to the British Museum by Mr. Abel Chapman, who killed it in January, 1907, off the coast of Northumberland. The bird was in winter-plumage, but most of the lesser and median wing-coverts, and the feathers on the area over the femur, as well as some of those on the inter-scapular region, were freshly moulted, black with twin spots of white at the extremity. It weighed 12 lbs. Few examples of this North Siberian species have from time to time been procured off our coasts in winter, and half-a-dozen records will be found in Saunders' Manual, most of which have probably been correctly identified. The shape and size of their bill renders adults of this species fairly easy to distinguish from C. glacialis, even in winter-plumage; but in immature birds the character of the bill is much less marked, and mistakes may easily be made.'

Bolam (1912: 674) says: 'Mr. Abel Chapman has lately presented to the British Museum a second Northumbrian example of Colymbus adamsii, which, as he obligingly informs me, was shot by himself in the harbour at Holy Island, in January, 1879, and had been in his possession ever since. It is a male, and weighed when killed 12¾ lbs. Mr. Chapman adds in his letter: "I fancy I shot at least one other, later, but did not recognise them or keep the skins"; a remark I have more than once applied, mentally, to some of the birds I have myself examined, in bygone days.'

H. F. Witherby (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 9-11, says: 'While working out the plumages of the White-billed Diver (Colymbus adamsii) for the Practical Handbook of British Birds I found that a specimen in the British Museum collection obtained by Mr. Abel Chapman in 1879 in Northumberland and recorded by Mr. Ogilvie Grant in 1908 as of this species (British Birds, I. p. 295, see also V. p. 174) is in fact an example of the Great Northern Diver (C. immer). This error made me feel uncertain about the other recorded British occurrences accepted as correct in our Hand-List (p. 159)....

5. C. immer. - January 1879, Northumberland, killed by Mr. Abel Chapman and now in the British Museum collection. This specimen, as already remarked, has also C. immer, Hickling, Norfolk, Dec. 1872, erroneously recorded as C. adamsii been wrongly identified as C. adamsii. Its bill is in no way characteristic of that species while its primary-shafts are dark brown.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'On examination it turned out to be Great Northern Diver Gavia immer.'

Comment Big discrepancy in the year, but I believe the articles refer to the same individual. Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1882 Northumberland Farne Islands, immature male, obtained, 24th October, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1924Z18.4537).

(Watson, 2010).

[A. R. Dean email].

History Watson (2010) in detailing the R. W. Chase collection in the Birmingham Museum lists this specimen and quoting from his Notebooks adds that it was shot by W. Cuthbertson, received by me in the flesh and stuffed by Saville.

Comment Misidentified. It is a Great Northern Diver (Tim Dean email). Not acceptable.

0). 1883 Suffolk River Orwell, immature, obtained, December.

(Babington, 1884-86; Southwell, 1890).

[H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 332-333; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; Ticehurst, 1932; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 292].

History Babington (1884-86: 246) says: 'One, immature, from the Sudbury Museum; in my collection (for the probable locality see the preceding bird). My specimen has the bill almost white at the junction of the mandibles; the rest is horn-coloured, the lower mandible is everywhere pale, and has a decided slope or curve upwards. The form of the bills in the British and Cambridge Museums agrees with that of my own, an autotype of which is here given.'

Further, pp. 254-255, he adds: 'One taken on the Orwell, Dec. 1883 (in my collection, purchased from Podd). There can I think be no doubt, though the upper mandible is deformed, that the bird belongs to this form, which some consider not to be a distinct species from the Great Northern Diver.'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 268-269) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, says: 'Looking to what is known of the home of this bird it could scarcely have reached the place where it met its fate without passing over Norfolk waters. But this is probably not the only example of the form taken in the eastern counties, for, on the dispersal of the contents of the Sudbury Museum, the late Dr. Babington became possessed of a specimen which there is strong reason to suppose was obtained at the mouth of the Stour or the Orwell (Birds of Suffolk, p. 246). After Dr. Babington's death this specimen passed into the collection of the Hon. Walter Rothschild.'

H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 332-333, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', placing the record in square brackets, say: 'On December 31st, 1901, a Diver with the whole of lower and about two-thirds of upper mandibles white, was picked up at Caister, Norfolk, but Mr. Gurney does not think the bill was sufficiently upturned for this species. Nor does he consider the specimen figured in Babington's Birds of Suffolk a true C. adamsii (J. H. Gurney, Zool., 1902, p. 99; cf. also W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, antea, Vol. I. p. 295).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'specimen is now lost. Insufficiently substantiated.'

Comment This is the specimen that was figured in this work, and not the Pakefield bird as stated by Harting (1901). Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). 1893 Argyll Loch Fyne, shot, autumn, now at Manchester Grammar School.

(N. Abbott, British Birds 16: 59).

[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; N. Abbott, British Birds 16: 59; Witherby, 1920-24; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 292].

History H. F. Witherby (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 11-12, says: 'There remain three other recorded examples (viz. 1893, autumn, Loch Fyne, Argyllshire; 1895-6, winter, Emsworth Harbour, Hants.; 1897, January, Filey, Yorks.), which I have been unable to trace and of which no sufficient details have been published to enable me to come to any conclusion with regard to them. Under the circumstances I should exclude them from the British List until they can be proved to be correctly identified.'

N. Abbott of Wilmslow (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. p. 59, in a Letter, dated June 17th, 1922, says: 'Sirs, - In Mr. Witherby's paper on the White-billed Northern Diver (antea, pp. 9-12) he states that he has been unable to trace the above bird.

In Sharpe's Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain, Vol. IV. p. 304, (addenda) is the following note: - 'Colymbus adamsii. During a recent visit to Manchester, I found a young bird of this species in the very interesting collection of Mr. Bulkeley Allen at Altrincham, The specimen was shot at Achaglachgach, Loch Fyne, by a keeper named Ebenezer Burgess, late in the autumn of 1893.'

Mr. Allen's collection is now at the Manchester Grammar School, and Mr. F. A. Bruton, of that school, has kindly allowed me to see the specimen and given me a copy of the entry in the catalogue relating to it, which is as follows: - 'No. 33. Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis or adamsii). This bird, which I supposed to be an immature Great Northern Diver, was sent to me from Achaglachgach, Loch Fyne, by my brother's keeper, Ebenezer Burgess. Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, who saw my bird on March 16th 1897, expressed great doubt whether it was not the White-billed Diver, C. adamsii.'

I have compared the bird with the illustrations given in Mr. Witherby's article and, judging from the bill, the bird is C. immer. The upper line of the upper mandible descends towards the tip and the general shape of the bill resembles those of other Great Northern Divers in the collection.

As the bird is cased I cannot give any details as to the shafts of the primaries. Mr. Bruton has kindly given me permission to photograph the bird and I hope to let you have a print in the course of a few days.' [The photograph kindly sent confirms Mr. Abbott's opinion. - H.F.W.]

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'On examination it turned out to be Great Northern Diver Gavia immer.'

0). 1895-96 Hampshire Emsworth Harbour, shot, winter.

(Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; Saunders & Clarke, 1927; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

History Kelsall & Munn (1905: 347) say: 'The Rev. Canon S. G. Scott, Rector of Havant, has a specimen which was obtained in Emsworth Harbour, in the winter of 1895-96.'

H. F. Witherby (1922) in British Birds, Vol. XVI. pp. 11-12, says: 'There remain three other recorded examples (viz. 1893, autumn, Loch Fyne, Argyllshire; 1895-6, winter, Emsworth Harbour, Hants.; 1897, January, Filey, Yorks.), which I have been unable to trace and of which no sufficient details have been published to enable me to come to any conclusion with regard to them. Under the circumstances I should exclude them from the British List until they can be proved to be correctly identified.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'At one time it was in the possession of the Rev. Canon S. G. Scott, Havant, but is now untraceable. Insufficiently substantiated.'

0). 1897 Yorkshire Filey Brigg, shot, January.

(Cordeaux, 1899; Nelson, 1907).

[H. F. Witherby, British Birds 16: 9-12; Witherby, 1920-24; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

History Cordeaux (1899: 38) says: 'An example of this Arctic species in winter plumage was shot from Filey Brigg in January, 1897, and came into the possession of Mr. Brown, the birdstuffer of that place, in whose shop I saw it.'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952) and by Mather (1986) who says: 'In Cordeaux (1899) there is a reference to a White-billed Diver having been shot from Filey Brigg in January 1897 which went to Mr. Brown, the local taxidermist, in whose shop Cordeaux examined it.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'Insufficiently substantiated, in the total absence of any supporting evidence.'

0). 1901 Norfolk Caister-on-Sea, found dead, 31st December.

(J. H. Gurney, Zoologist 1902: 99; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 332-333).

[H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 2: 332-333; D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

History J. H. Gurney (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VI. p. 99, says: 'This bird was found dead at Caistor [sic] on 31st December 1901, then taken to Mr. E. C. Saunders, taxidermist.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'Its current whereabouts is unknown, so it is insufficiently substantiated.'

0). 1925 Meirionnydd Harlech, adult, seen, 14th January.

(H. E. Forrest, British Birds 19: 28).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290; Pritchard, 2012].

History H. E. Forrest in British Birds, Vol. XIX. p. 28, under 'Possible White-billed Diver in Merioneth', says: 'My friend, Mr. G. M. Furley, a good ornithologist, has described to me a bird which he watched on January 14th, 1925, off the coast of Harlech. It was "a large Diver, almost as big as a Cormorant", with which he was able to compare it. The bill was distinctly white, and had a slight up-tilt at the end, while the upper plumage was very dark - nearly black in fact. Was this possibly a White-billed Northern Diver (Colymbus adamsii) ? The details certainly seem to point to that species. It has not previously been recorded in Wales, nor, indeed (according to the Practical Handbook), anywhere in the west.'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 285, in a review of the species, say: 'Insufficiently substantiated.'

Comment Only recorded as a possible sighting. Not acceptable.

0). 1925 Isles of Scilly Toll's Island, St Mary's, seen, April.

(King MS.; Penhallurick, 1969).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

History Penhallurick (1969: 31) says: 'One off Toll's Island, Scilly, in April 1925 (King MS).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 290, in a review of the species, say: 'The MS. mentioned in the published reference is a collection of J. Clark & F. R. Rodd's papers from The Zoologist.

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1950 Shetland Loch of Spiggie, Mainland, seen, 21st May.

(Eds., British Birds 45: 423; Venables & Venables, 1955).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

Venables & Venables (1955) say: '21st May 1950. Immature, Spiggie Voe (Venables).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 290, in a review of the species, say: 'Insufficiently substantiated.'

0). 1950 Angus & Dundee Lunan Bay, 2nd December.

(Crighton, 1976).

[Not in D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 257-296].

History Crighton (1976) unpaged, says: 'One seen at Lunan Bay on 2nd December, 1950.'

Comment Not mentioned in the review of the species in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. pp. 257-296 by D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974). Possibly overlooked. However, there are no identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1951 Shetland Bay of Scousborough, Mainland, immature, 24th April.

(Eds., British Birds 45:423-424).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 290].

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 290, in a review of the species, say: 'It is with some reluctance that we include this and the last bird in this category. They were accepted by Bannerman and have been listed in the pages of British Birds as adamsii (ref. 82). However, no details beyond those given here have been published nor are any now available (L.S.V.V. in litt.). We do feel that some objective standards must be applied to any record of a species so prone to mis-identification and, in the absence of any appraisable evidence, we are logically obliged to regard these records as uncertain.'

0). 1953 Shetland Bluemull Sound, adult, May.

(L. S. V. Venables, J. Peterson & W. Kay, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (11): 17).

[A. T. Macmillan, Scottish Birds 8: 377-379; Pennington et al., 2004].

History L. S. V. Venables, J. Peterson & W. Kay (1953) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (XI). p. 17, says: 'Wm. Sinclair (First Officer in Earl of Zetland) saw an adult in summer plumage off Bluemull Sound on two occasions in May.'

A. T. Macmillan (1975) in Scottish Birds, Vol. VIII. pp. 377-379, makes no mention of this record, whereas, Pennington et al. (2004) states that there is no supporting evidence.

Comment The same William Sinclair had an earlier sight record from a vessel in 1950 accepted. Not acceptable.

0). 1953 Norfolk Salthouse, 9th October.

(M. J. Seago, Norfolk Bird Report 1953; Eds., British Birds 47: 319-320).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 291].

History M. J. Seago (1953) in the Norfolk Bird Report, p. 145, recording the record in square brackets, says: 'One off Salthouse, 9th October. Watched for some time in bright sunlight at distance of approximately 200 yards. Noticeably larger than Herring Gull swimming nearby and appeared much bigger than a Red-throated Diver which was about 200 yards further away. Crown and nape grey-brown; back brown mottled white; neck and throat white. Bill white and basal end could not be distinguished from throat feathers. Bill stout and very noticeably up-tilted with horizontal top mandible (sketch supplied) (D. R. Wilson). On consulting The Handbook the observer admitted some misgivings over this identification.'

The Editors (1954) in British Birds, Vol. XLVII. pp. 319-320, in a review of the 1953 Norfolk Bird Report, say: 'A record of the East Coast Flamingo and others for White-billed Diver, Sabine's Gull and Tengmalm's Owl are wisely square-bracketed...'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 291, in a review of the species, say: 'Insufficiently substantiated.'

0). c. 1953 Sussex Chichester Harbour, adult, found dead, undated.

(K. Shackleton, Field 4th Oct., 1962: 637; Cohen, 1963).

[D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather, British Birds 67: 291-292].

History K. Shackleton (1962) in The Field of 4th Oct., Vol. CCXX. p. 637, states that living on the south coast makes one a bit of a beachcomber. One day in the pouring rain I found a corpse which appeared to be a Great Northern Diver. I picked it up by the beak to carry it home, but it soon lost the body and I was left with the head. Now at home I decided to boil the skull in caustic soda to preserve it. All this happened a long time ago, and because I write nothing down...Several years passed. The skull lay permanently on the living room mantlepiece...perhaps for five years.

One day I looked at it with a different outlook and recalled some distant memory of its detail in two authoritative bird books. I searched out this detail in these two books and there it was - the bill was the exact replica of Colymbus adamsii, the White-billed Diver.

Cohen (1963) says: 'One found dead on the mainland coast, year uncertain; the bill is in BMNH (Field 4th Oct., 1962).'

D. M. Burn & J. R. Mather (1974) in British Birds, Vol. LXVII. p. 290, in a review of the species, say: 'Skull and rhamphotheca at BMNH no. S/1958.4.1. This specimen was initially identified as immer, but after five years or so the finder re-appraised it and on the basis of the bill shape considered it then to be adamsii. As such it was transferred to the British Museum where we examined it eleven years later. The gonys angle is fairly well developed, but the bill is almost totally black and the gonys fusion is incomplete, the groove running well forwards towards the tip. There is some evidence to suggest that the corpse was found during autumn and, if so, it was probably losing its breeding plumage.'

AC Non-pass

Keith Naylor

White-billed Diver

Gavia adamsii (Gray, JR, 1859) (8, 12)

Great Auk

Wilson's Storm-petrel