Black-throated Diver

Local status: Very rare winter visitor

Another record of this species in the York area is long overdue with no records since the 1980s. It is remarkable that two birds were together on the same stretch of the River Ouse in 1986, an occurrence very unlikely to occur again. The 1983 record was on a large ornamental pond, which shows that rare birds really can turn up anywhere! The first record of Black-throated Diver in the York area was found the same day as a Red-throated Diver was seen nearby at Wheldrake Ings.

Records:
1986: River Ouse, Poppleton, 18th February to 1st March. Two birds.
1983: Bossall, 10th to 14th February. Found dead on 14th.
1979: Bubwith, 18th March.