13/10/2022 Hay-a-Park Gravel Pit, Knaresborough

Red-necked Grebe: Working in East Yorkshire I found myself heading over to Hay-a-Park near Harrogate. 

A large, flooded former gravel pit that has several smaller lagoons, with reedbeds, grassland and scrub, a nice little place. 
The bird was out of view when I arrived along the eastern side of the main lake and it took me some time to relocate it, not being familiar with the site held me back a bit as it was tricky to find the public right of ways.
In winter plumage it is similar to a great crested grebe but has a thicker neck, and a stout dark bill with a yellow base. It has a brown body, a black crown with whitish cheeks and, in summer, a red neck and breast.