Three Grebes at the Eyes - 12 June 2012

Arriving at Woolston Eyes today, I was surprised to see only a handful of Black-headed Gull chicks so the recent very-heavy rains have obviously hit them hard. Moorhen seemed to have coped well as there was a number of broods doing really well. A good look at the reedbeds produced two Reed Bunting and quite a few Reed Warblers, the latter busy taking insects back to nests.

But today was all about the Black-necked Grebes for me. The Eyes is home to one the countries biggest breeding populations of this rare UK breeder and numbers appear to be decreasing each year. Today I counted 8 pairs with young but it was difficult to count the chicks as some were tucked away on the backs of adults and difficult to see. My guess would be 11-13 chicks at most for the 8 pairs (based on 1.5 UK average brood). I hope there were others hidden away somewhere because that would mean the numbers are up on the 16 adults recorded last year.

There was also a good number of Great Crested Grebe about, some with broods, and a few Little Grebe completed a wonderful trio.

Star of the Eyes - a Black-necked Grebe carrying a chick

A Great Crested Grebe in colourful summer head plumage

A Little Grebe completes the set