Black-necked Grebe: Present for over a week now, this BNG has been favouring the smaller boating lake that sits beside the massive marina lake. I arrived after work in late afternoon while the bird was busily feeding on the far side of the lake being watched by local photographer Vicky Outen, and after a catch up we decided to approach the bird on the otherside where it showed really well.
These small grebes closely resembles the Slavonian grebe but in all plumages it has a small and characteristically up-turned bill, a steep forehead and peaked crown. This small grebe is unmistakeable when in summer plumage - it has golden tufts of feathers on its face, contrasting with its black head and neck.
During winter they are predominately white with a poorly defined black cap, which distinguishes it from the crisper-looking Slavonian Grebe.
