Birding The Nothe

Great Northern Diver

Any additional records are most welcome - please email them in! If you've arrived straight to this page click here to get to the home page and site navigation.

JDM and recent Records

2003 - All records from Weymouth Bay, where, in contrast to Red-throated Diver, fewer than usual in recent years noted. In the early part of the year 14 bird-days, on 9 dates 2 Jan - 9 Mar, and the regular spring record of three on 3 May, three on 21 Jan and six on 24 Jan (DBR). Up to four partial summer-plumaged birds in Apr (DBR). In the late winter period three on 2 Nov and up to five during Nov, and two in Dec (DBR). Monthly maxima:

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. 6 1 1 4 3           5 2

2002 - A good series of records from Weymouth Bay. 38 bird-days, on 11 days 7 Jan - 22 May, max 7 on 21 Feb and 19 Mar. Again, a good showing in spring, with a remarkable 5 on 1 May, with the last single on 22 May the latest ever record. In the late winter period one on 30 Dec with two there on 31 Dec. Monthly maxima:

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. 1 7 7 1 5             2

2001 - Very similar to last year's showing. Noted on 8 days 13 Jan - 7 Apr, max 2 on 13 Jan and 21 Feb. One on 24 and 25 Apr mirrored last year's unusual spring record. In the late winter period, singles on 11 Oct and 23 - 26 Dec.

2000 - Noted on 9 days 1 Jan - 2 Mar, max 3 on 5 Jan. Two on 26 Apr were an unusual spring record, with one lingering off the Stone Pier until 29th. In the late winter period, singles on 28 Oct and 1 Nov.

1999 - Three on 27 Dec and Max 11 on 31 Dec - an unprecedented total for Weymouth Bay, unmatched since the "12-15" in Dec 1981, which was the combined total with Portland Harbour.

1984 - One on 30 Nov.

1982 - One in Weymouth Bay off the Stone Pier on 3 Dec.

 

Weymouth Bay monthly maxima (from Bird Reports)

 

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

2003 6 1 1 4 3           5 2
2002 1 7 7 1 5             2
2001 2 2 8 2 1           3 2
2000 4 11 5 7 2         1 1 5

1999

 8

12 

 

 

 

 

 

 3

11 

1998

1

4

6

6

1

 

 

 

1

3

5

4

1997

2

5

7

2

2

 

 

 

 

 

1

1

1996

*6

*4

*3

*1

 

 

 

 

 

 

*3

*7

1995

*8

*10

*5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*1

*2

1994

*8

*3

*4

*6

*7

 

 

 

 

 

*3

*4

1993

*3

*4

*2

*1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*4

1992

1

1

2

3

 

 

 

 

 

2

2

1

1991

*8

*7

*4

*1

 

 

 

 

 

 

*4

*7

1990

*7

*4

*2

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

*1

*3

1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1988

*6

*4

*5

*6

 

 

 

 

 

 

*1

*1

1987

*5

*1

*6

*1

 

 

 

 

 

 

*1

*1

1986

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

1985

 

*4

 

*4

*2

 

 

 

 

 

 

*3

1984

*6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

*6

1983

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*3

1982

 

 

*3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*5

1981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*12/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* - records combined with Portland Harbour

Records from Bird Reportsand other sources

1999 - A record year - 12 on 6 Feb and 11 on 28 Dec (count from Nothe also 11 on 31 Dec). Total nos in Portland Harbour & Weymouth Bay of 22 on 29 Dec.

1998 - Newton's Cove had one on 8 Jan and one on17 Jan. The bird on 8 Jan was entangled in fishing line.

1997 - one on 6 Mar and two on 7 Mar.

1994 - One tangled in a gill net in Weymouth Bay on 29 Dec and later released.

1990 - Single in Weymouth Bay on 7 July a most unusual summer record.

1989 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay : 14 bird-days from 7 Jan - 20 Feb;

1986 - Weymouth Bay : Max 5, 3 March; max 3, 6 Dec.

1985 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay max 4 on 12 Feb & 8 Apr, with 2 late birds on 20 May; late max 3 on 29 Dec.

1984 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay early max 6 on 18 Jan; late max 6 in early Dec.

1983 - Weymouth Bay max 4 on 1 Mar. Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay max 3 on 24 Dec.

1982 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay max 3 on 3 Mar. Records from Oct - Dec, max 5 in Dec.

1981 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay up to 5 Jan - Mar. From 23 Oct with max 12/15 on 27 Dec.

1979 - One in summer plumage in Weymouth Bay on 24 Apr.

1977 - Weymouth had singles Jan-Mar and up to 8 Nov-Dec.

1976 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay singles Jan- Feb and Nov; two or three in Dec.

1975 - Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay Max 3, 16 Nov-21 Dec 'of which one was caught accidentally in a fishing net in five fathoms of water'.

1974 - Two birds noted Portland Harbour/Weymouth Bay from 26 Oct - late Dec.

1971 - Oiled bird in Newton's Cove from 5 - 22 Dec.

1970 - Single in Jan in Weymouth Bay.

1969 - Single in the Harbour once and in Weymouth Bay on several dates in Dec.

1940 - One Nothe 13 Feb.

1938 - Weymouth Bay 2 Apr.

1937 - Weymouth Pier 24 & 31 Jan.

1934 - One Weymouth Bay 19 Apr.

1933 - Four Weymouth Bay 12 Apr.

1927 - Two Weymouth Bay 7 & 30 Jan.