Black-necked Grebes

I'm lucky to have some Black-necked Grebes that visit locally during the winter and early Spring months. These little divers are never easy to pick out on a large body of water, but when the sun is shining in the right direction it can be a little easier to pick them out. Thankfully this pair were not stuck under the vegetation around the edge, but out a little and enjoying the warmth of the sun. 

These pictures are heavily cropped, as they were distant and I do not try to get too close to these birds. I used my tripod (which I rarely use) and good old fashioned fieldcraft, and patience. 

With a nearby Coot, for some idea of size. These are very small Grebes.

I'm looking forward to catching up with these again next winter, hopefully.

Black-necked Grebe

I usually make a special trip to Woolston Eyes near Warrington each Spring to see the Black-necked Grebes. Fantastic little birds, that when in their breeding plumage are something you must see. Not a great deal bigger than the Little Grebe and they spend a lot of their time diving and underwater. So not the easiest bird to find our watch. Well worth the trip though for a few views like this.

Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve

Woolston is such a large reserve that you never really know what you might see. There could be literally anything lurking anywhere. There are the site usuals that you would expect to see at certain times of the year, and then you get something quite out of this world like the White-crowned Sparrow that turned up a few weeks back.
One of the highlights of the spring and summer are the Black-necked Grebes. Very small birds, but what they lack in size they make up for in colour. They tend to stay away from the shore line and therefore the hides, but with a scope, they are great to watch.
Here are some of the regulars and the not so common Black-necked Grebes.

Shelduck in front of the Morgan hide.

Willow Warbler in song.

Black-necked Grebe in it's fine breeding plumage.

A well hidden male Blackcap.