Both Divers still present this am. The good news was that the juvenile appeared much more active than last weekend, diving frequently this morning. The piece of wire/fishing line is still dangling and the bird has a gash on the right side of the face, hopefully it's on the road to recovery and the remaining line will break free.
19th Jan - still just about hanging on. Roy and myself had very close views tonight and the situation has become even more unusual. The line is now dangling loose on the right hand side of its head, but close views show that something, possibly a hook, is actually stuck in its right cheek. There is also a dark patch around the hook/protrusion which is either a scab or possibly even an infection. It's still looking relatively alert but never dives.
There is certainly a tight piece of wire/elastic/string wrapped around its neck, but it is now definitely able to fully close its bill. Perhaps it has managed to dislodge whatever was in its mouth when Rob saw it? It seems okay, although it never dived once when I was there, Roy Travis told me it didn't dive when he was there before me either. I can't see anything going into its mouth, but it is certainly getting annoyed by whatever is wrapped around its neck.
I have informed UU about this diver, as as far as I am aware, fishing is not allowed at the reservoirs yet up to 37 have been counted.
As Rob has said, there is very little that can be done to rescue the diver, but if anyone sees it at the side of the reservoir weak but still alive and catchable, ring me at once, or take it to Stapeley RSPCA Wildlife Hospital (about half a mile past Stapeley Water Gardens nr Nantwich, sighposted from J16 on the M6) where they are experts with fish-eating birds. If it is dead, get the corpse out for analysis and taxidermy and stick it in your freezer (contact me!)
Judith Smith (07970778024)
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Both Divers still on Audenshaw today. Sadly the juvenile bird has appeared unwell, diving only occasionally, during my visit and appears to have something wrapped tightly around its neck (probably fishing line). Also the the bird permanently had it's bill slightly open at rest and kept lifting it's head up as if trying to free itself. Other observers yesterday afternoon also noted the same. I sincerely hope we're wrong on this and the bird has just been a bit lethargic as it would be impossible to rescue.
