Grebes

[Ed Tyler]

Okay today whilst looking for Kingfishers I was watching some Grebes from my hinding hole.

They were a grey/white colour that I now understand to be Great Crested Grebes in a winter plumage.

As they swam around they spent a lot of time with there neck stretched right out and their heads down really low as if resting it on the water.

I have seen this behaviour before, but what are they doing ????

Thanks in advance.

Ed

[tameblackbirds]

Originally Posted by Ed Tyler

Okay today whilst looking for Kingfishers I was watching some Grebes from my hinding hole.

They were a grey/white colour that I now understand to be Great Crested Grebes in a winter plumage.

As they swam around they spent a lot of time with there neck stretched right out and their heads down really low as if resting it on the water.

I have seen this behaviour before, but what are they doing ????

Thanks in advance.

Ed

Sounds like spring is in the air to me could they have been showing off?

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

Sounds like spring is in the air to me could they have been showing off?

lol. Definitely sign of Spring(ish!), very typical of pre-mating rituals - it's an aggressive stance so possibly marking out breeding territory too !

[Ed Tyler]

Thanks guys,

This did cross my mind but watching them there was no conflict or stand offs involved so I sort of crossed that off my list.

Cheers

Ed

[JeffH]

Hi Ed

Great Crested Grebes have quite an elaborate and interesting courtship display involving the offering of weeds to each other and it would certainly be worth watching out for if this pair stick around for the next few weeks.
They often also start nesting as early as February.
And good luck with the Kingfishers

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Ed Tyler

Okay today whilst looking for Kingfishers I was watching some Grebes from my hinding hole.

They were a grey/white colour that I now understand to be Great Crested Grebes in a winter plumage.

As they swam around they spent a lot of time with there neck stretched right out and their heads down really low as if resting it on the water.

I have seen this behaviour before, but what are they doing ????

Thanks in advance.

Ed

I was watching one grebe feeding some full grown juveniles a few weeks ago, and the Juvenile but its head level with the water to beg for food. Is this possibly what was happening