Dipper Bird

 Introduction

 This morning, I was delighted at long last to have an encounter with a dipper, a bird species which can "fly" under water.

 Information on the dipper species.

From past experience I would assign a 1000:1 chance of spotting a dipper whilst out in the countryside.Even then there is usually insufficient time to position the camera before the bird flies away.

This morning I hit the jackpot whilst at Rouken Glen Country Park near Glasgow, I had an unrestricted view of the bird whilst standing on the river bank during which the bird seemed indifferent to my presence. Upshot was a good video clip of the bird's modus operandi. 

 

 Information sourced from Wikipedia

The white-throated dipper is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which they fall. It often perches bobbing spasmodically with its short tail lifted up on the rocks around which the water swirls and tumbles. It acquired its name from these sudden dips, not from its diving habit, though it dives as well as walks into the water.

It flies rapidly and straight, its short wings whirring swiftly and without pauses or glides, calling a shrill zil, zil, zil. It then either drops on the water and dives or plunges in with a small splash.

From a perch, it walks into the water and deliberately submerges. Undoubtedly when entering the water, it grips with its strong feet, but the method of progression beneath the surface is by swimming, using the wings effectively for "flying" under water. It holds itself down by muscular exertion, with its head well down and its body oblique, its course beneath the surface often revealed by a line of rising bubbles.

More information

For information on Scotland’s extensive history, bird watching, wildlife, geology, sightseeing and much more please refer to the publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.