Great Crested Grebe

The Great Crested Grebe is an elegant water bird which has ornate head plumes during the breeding season. This led to it being hunted for its feathers in the past and almost resulted in its extermination from the UK.

They can be seen all the year round and occur on lowland lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs and rivers and are also found along sheltered coastal areas during winter.

Great Crested Grebes have an elaborate courtship display and breed on shallow, reed-fringed freshwater lakes, gravel pits and slow rivers.

Date: 9th February 2008

Location: Northlands Park, Pitsea, Essex