Red-throated Diver Gavia stellate

Local status: Rare winter visitor and passage migrant

The most common diver to be seen along the Yorkshire coast and therefore unsurprisingly the most frequently encountered in the York area. Most of the birds are fly-throughs, including a flock of five in November 1993 at Aughton, which must have been a remarkable sight! The three December 1996 records are intriguing and, whilst they have been accepted as separate records, could possibly all relate to a wintering individual making regular movements along the River Derwent.

Records:
2016: Bank Island, 11th February. one briefly
2012: Dringhouses Pond, York, 11th to 12th November. Juvenile.

2008: Castle Howard, 5th January. Found dead (oiled).
1997: Wheldrake Ings, 24th December.
1996: Bubwith Ings, 31st December. Flew south.
1996: Bubwith Ings, 26th December. Flew south.
1996: Bubwith Ings, 24th December. Flew south.
1996: Barmby Marsh, 10th February. Flew north.
1994: East Cottingwith, 30th January. Flew north.
1993: Aughton, 26th November. Five flew north.
1987: North Duffield Carrs, 12th February. Flew south.
1986: Castle Howard, 13th April. Found dead.
1985: River Ouse, York, 1st to 3rd February, Poppleton, 6th to 7th February.
1979: Wheldrake Ings, 18th March and Bubwith, 24th March.
1977: Castle Howard, 24th to 27th November.
1976: River Rye, between Helmsley and Nunnington, 20th March.
1970: Lower Derwent Valley, no details available.