Great crested greabe

butchdj · #1 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 10:01 PM

Hi all I am pretty new at this wildlife watching (but now loving it) and a week or so ago i spotted a Great Crested Grebe juvenile (picture of it downloaded to this site) on my local park as I walked through it on my way home. This is a city center park in the middle of Bradford and was wondering if this is a common environment to find such a bird as I am only used to seeing the usual collection of ducks and canada geese.

Any info wil be appreciated.

paulchandler6 · #2 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 10:09 PM

Great-crested Grebes can turn up almost anywhere on reasonable waters. Birds are dispersing to find feeding areas elsewhere for the winter. Will be interesting to how long it stays. Is there much disturbance there, i.e. walkers etc?

Paul

John · #3 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 10:16 PM

G C Grebes are very resilient birds and can put up with plenty of disturbance. I have seen them in some ridiculously busy places, non more so than yesterday.

I was in Norfolk and walking along the river Bure, opposite Horning. This is almost like the MI of rivers as there were so many boats using the river that at times there almost seemed to be no gaps betwween them. On top of that there were loads of Anglers lining the banks and yet there were G C grebes all over the place.

John

Lincs Yellowbelly · #4 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 10:24 PM

Lots of anglers usually means lots of fish, so it's no suprise to see Grebes in such places

like you say they are very uneffected by busy places. I walked around Covenham Res the other week and there was dozens of Great Crested Grebe on there, there are even Slavonian Grebe on there during winter

butchdj · #5 (**permalink**) 16-09-2007, 10:24 PM

thanks for that both of you there is lots and lots of diturbance but they have created some of those artificial floating islands in the middle of the lake to try and help the birds.

I spoke to the water bailif and he was telling me that last week someone drove a transit van into the lake so I would defintely say the disturbance level is high! I had a look this morning and it looks like its gone now....unfortunately.

zharca · #6 (**permalink**) 20-09-2007, 03:03 PM

Hi, I think there's a good chance that they may settle as they seem to be able to put up with a lot of stuff going on.

Down at our local park there is a Grebe family raising its second lot of chicks this year. it's a busy place with fishermen, kids, bicycles, dogs (swimming!), carpark etc. but they seem very happy and nest in full view close to the bank.
A week or so back mum was giving the latest babies a ride on her back whilst the bigger ones and dad were fishing. Dad brought over a fair sized fish and plonked it down on her back for the kids. great to watch!