Possible grebe on our lake?

SJANSELL · #1 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 03:26 PM

I'm not good at identifying birds except ones in the garden. Perhaps someone could suggest what this bird is, which I saw on the small (relatively suburban) lake near us (Northampton).

It looks like a grebe, right sort of bill, with a black head and black down its back in a stripe (wings folded), rest white.

I didn't get a good look at it as when I was feeding the ducks and geese with seed it was way out in the middle (possible 2 others) and the sun was against me. Later I tried to follow one down the stream, but it swam away quickly, although I'm pretty positive it had been diving.

Sorry that's very vague, but I've never seen one like that here before - we mostly have swans, Canada geese and the usual ducks. I wondered whether it was a rarer grebe come inland or some other sort of duck, with winter plumage. I will go look again during the week. Many thanks, Sarah

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 03:36 PM

tufty

How big?

Dae · #3 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 05:01 PM

I have to admit it doesn't sound like any grebe I know, I too favor a tuftie by description alone - despite the description of the bill not sounding right.

Jonathan · #4 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJANSELL

It looks like a grebe, right sort of bill, with a black head and black down its back in a stripe (wings folded), rest white.

Have a look at a drake goosander, though the bill is different to a grebe:

Goosander

Cheers
Jonathan

david156 · #5 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 05:35 PM

mainly white with a black stripe down its back sounds like smew but the head is wrong. If its largish it could be Goosander. Have a look at images of these two and see if they look familer. They do both come inland in winter.

Hope this helps, David

Picidae · #6 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 08:18 PM

Why not a Great Crested Grebe in winter plumage - 'stripe' of black down back of neck sounds very grebe like to me - or even possibly Slav or Red Necked (which can turn up on 'inland' stretches of water in the winter)

Galleriet - Netfugl.dk

birding facts Birding Resources by the Fat Birder for England Northamptonshire

SJANSELL · #7 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 09:37 PM

Thank you for all the replies. I was amazed to see how quickly people responded!

I have followed up suggestions by looking at some images and I think I've ruled out the goosander and tuftie. I think size-wise it is much like other grebes, but I'm not good at estimating. The nearest picture I found was the red necked grebe and interestingly the image was on a Buckinghamshire birdwatch site, so not far away. The reason this looked a good match is that there was quite a strong contrast between the black stripe and the whiter underside, which shows up on one of the photos. Some of the other suggestions, the contrast didn't look so clear.

I will definitely go and have another look although I realise it might be a temporary visitor. Haven't been so excited since I had a reed bunting in my garden all one winter some years back!

Picidae · #8 (**permalink**) 26-01-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJANSELL

I think size-wise it is much like other grebes, but I'm not good at estimating. The nearest picture I found was the red necked grebe and interestingly the image was on a Buckinghamshire birdwatch site, so not far away.

The second link that I posted above, lists the more regular sites in Northhamptonshire for winter grebe species including RNGrebe. (not sure whether you are near any of those areas - although that's not relevant particularly!).

See if you can get a photo next time!

SJANSELL · #9 (**permalink**) 31-01-2010, 05:02 PM

Went down to the lake to look for my mysterious grebe and my husband took a camera, but unfortunately not the one with the best zoom (the batteries were flat and we couldn't find the charger)

No sign of the grebe, but we looked carefully at the other birds and did find what I think is a tufted duck (small, stubby looking with an almost blue wide bill?) and also possibly a goosander, neither of which I have seen before. It was a bit easier to spot them, as much of the lake has iced over and they were confined to small areas.

In my book it shows a goosander with a red head, going abruptly to a white neck and then grey back, which is says is adult female in breeding plumage - that seems quite early?

We have taken some photos, but the birds look titchy. I am going to have a try at editing them (new skill for me) and getting them up, but may take me a while and will probably look pixelated.

BTW can I change my user name? I'm new to forums and threads and just bunged in my username without thinking and now I'd rather call myself something a bit friendlier, not in caps!! I can see how to do password and email, but not user?

pressld2 · #10 (**permalink**) 31-01-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJANSELL

BTW can I change my user name? I'm new to forums and threads and just bunged in my username without thinking and now I'd rather call myself something a bit friendlier, not in caps!! I can see how to do password and email, but not user?

'Fraid not Sarah. I'd like to change mine too, but it's not an option. You can, however, rejoin with a different username. This will obviously reset your post count to zero so if you want to do it, 'twere best done quickly!

Dave P.