One of my favourite birds is the great crested grebe. They were popular in Victorian times, but sadly only for their feathers - they were almost wiped out in the UK by hunting. Fortunately, since they've been protected they've thrived. In London, the former docks provide excellent habitats for them, and they can also be seen on other suitably deep lakes in parks.
I always think of mallards as being all-rounders - equally clumsy on land, dabbling in the water and when taking off. Great crested grebes are champion underwater swimmers, perfectly streamlined. They dive under the water without warning and disappear for quite some time before reappearing in a totally different place, often empty-beaked but sometimes clutching a prize (see below photos). They're perhaps known for their elaborate courting ritual, a synchronised aquatic dance. Sadly I don't have any photos of this but there are videos on YouTube.
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| Great crested grebes are rarely seen on land and look extremely awkward trying to walk. |
Below are several photos I've taken recently of great crested grebes that have successfully caught different prey. This is an interesting way to get a glimpse of what fish and other creatures live below the water's surface.
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| Great crested grebe with a fish, Canary Wharf, July 2019 |
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| Great crested grebe with what looks like a small eel, Greenland Dock, July 2019 |
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| This great crested grebe had caught some kind of crustacean South Norwood Lake, June 2019 |
I'll be writing much more about these beautiful birds and their stripy chicks in future posts.
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