Red-throated diver

Gavia Stellata.

The books seem to have adopted the North American name of 'loon'. I wonder, though, if that name might have migrated there from Scotland. Last week, for example, I watched birds on a marsh called The Loons. Lots of people from Orkney went to Canada with the Hudson's Bay Company, maybe they took the name and the southern name of diver was adopted through Britain.

The longer evenings encourage me to get out for a cycle. Only if it is nice of course. Last night I watched a hen harrier from the bike just outside of Kirkwall and this diver was just off Scapa Pier.