PICTURE GALLERY
Grebes
Rutland Water is a nationally important site for Little Grebes and they are present in small numbers throughout the year. This one was pictured by Tim Caldicott on 5 September from Lapwing Hide.
Picture: Matthew Berriman
Red-necked Grebes are rare but regular winter visitors. They are slightly smaller than Great Crested Grebes but the head pattern lacks the sharp black and white contrast. This one was identified near Normanton on 15 October 2003
Picture: Philip Tew
Rutland Water is a nationally important site for Great Crested Grebe and the reservoir ranks number one in Great Britain. It is a fairly common breeder but numbers during the winter months rise dramatically, with over 1000 birds sometimes present.
Slavonian (or Horned) Grebes are rare but regular winter visitors to Rutland Water.
This long-distance shot was taken on Sunday 16th December 2001, in Barnsdale Creek. It is quite a small grebe (compare the Coot), though not as small as the Little Grebe.
Photo: Richard Fray Andy Brett took this closer picture on 10 February 2002 near the dam. In winter, the clear-cut division of black and white on the head, together with the very narrow dark line down the back of the neck, can be used to separate it from the similar Black-necked Grebe, below.
And finally a picture from Matthew Berriman taken on 22 March 2003 showing a Slavonian Grebe moving from winter to summer plumage.
Black-necked grebes are uncommon passge visitors but rare in winter. This one was seen by Matthew Berriman in Dickinson's Bay, on 28 December 2002. Compare the less well defined black and white marking on the cheek and neck with that of the Slavonian Grebe above.
