Posted by Duncan on October 04, 2004 at 10:06:50 from 195.93.32.7 user Duncan.
In Reply to: Dick's Bird Book posted by Adam Quinan on September 17, 2004 at 01:40:44:
Hi,
It sounds very likely that that is the bird-book in question. I'm a bird obsessive myself (particularly divers) when I used to work in an antiquarian bookshop, I looked at a lot of bird books from that era and it doesn't appear that those are just the words that are always used. Some old books with paintings of divers are quite extraordinary: they have them looking like something really wild and enormous and almost dangerous. Having seen quite a few Great Northerns now - they are very beautiful birds but, as AR describes, they are grebe-like and familiar. You could easily mistake one for a cormorant at a distance.
They are not so exotic and 'other' as some of those old books portray them! I've only heard one call once - it wasn't meant to call, it was a misty morning in south-west Ireland, its plumage was on the change but it hadn't headed off for its breeding grounds. They're meant to be pretty much silent at such times. I was lurking on a rocky cove and could see the bird slipping along the still water very close to me, in the early light of dawn. The water seemed to be breathing and steaming. The bird was reflected perfectly in the water. Through binoculars I got the best look at a Great Northern I've ever had, though I'd been watching this bird and two others for most of the week. When it was at its closest to me, I saw its beak open and there was this ethereal wail that seemed to echo across the sheltered bay. And then it swam away. I can't deny that was pretty exotic and other!
They're great birds. Fun to watch, when they roll onto their backs and wave a foot!
Duncan