The Brixham diver
I’ve decided to have a trip out to Brixham in South Devon. Yes, again. It’s a beautiful town, with fishing and tourism its two main legal sources of income. Smuggling has always been more profitable than fishing here, but, with severe penalties, like death by hanging, it’s had its down sides as well over the years.
In 1334, Brixham’s value was assessed at one pound, twelve shillings and eightpence. Now the price of a single average house is £250,000.
I’m taking photographs of the birds here when I see a diver in the water. No, not a Great Northern Diver. Well, he might be great and he could be northern, but he’s not that sort of diver. He’s got the full gear you need at this time of year, together with an action camera strapped to his forehead.
He’s got a float to indicate his position.
I suppose that’s a safety feature. You don’t want to be run over by a motorboat, after all.
Behind him I can see the bird I want to photograph. That’s a Great Northern Diver behind a pair of flippers.
He comes to the surface with a scallop.
And signals to someone on the beach.
When he comes back onto land we get chatting. Jamie’s got quite a haul and he’s very kind and shows me what he’s caught:
Multiple scallops.
And a lobster.
Brixham’s teeming with life below the waterline.
More Brixham
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A Shag in the harbour Shags are a form of Cormorant found around our coasts. They are smaller than the Common Cormorant we get across… read more
The words ‘Great’ and ‘Northern’ go together so well What a special experience to spend time with something so wild. read more
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The Buzzard and its shadow Buzzards are regal. They must be, because they bring with them a retinue wherever they go. Here's one with its… read more
A wild cruise I love being on ferries and small boats. It's not something I do very often, so when my son Gabriel… read more
Kittiwake in winter There's a beautiful gull with a yellow beak in Brixham harbour. I can see it diving and fishing in the… read more