Two rare breeding birds have been spotted in the south of England this month. The Sussex Ornithological Society has shared the most recent rare sightings, with locals spotting two beautiful creatures at the beginning of December. One person spotted a Red-necked Grebe while another saw a Black-necked Grebe.
They said: “Bird of the week should probably go to a Red-necked Grebe found on Monday on the Southwick Canal; it wasn’t always easy to locate, but many people got to see it during its four-day stay.” Another one spotted a Black-necked Grebe for the first time at Pagham Lagoon, in West Sussex. A birdwatcher said: “A Black-necked Grebe was present all week on Pagham Lagoon.”
The Red-necked Grebe is considered very rare in the UK, especially during the winter months. The Red-necked Grebe is classified as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern lists due to low numbers, with breeders’ locations kept secret, making sightings a very special event for birdwatchers.
Wildlifetrusts explained that the red-necked grebe is “a scarce winter visitor to the UK”, with small numbers arriving from breeding grounds in Eastern Europe. “They’re most often seen in sheltered bays on the south and east coasts of England, up into eastern Scotland. Stormy weather can sometimes result in them turning up on inland wetlands. They dive for food, catching fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects.”
A few birds will sometimes stay in the UK over summer, with pairs even attempting to nest on very rare occasions. They typically take about two to four days to build their nests. “Like great crested grebes, they have an elaborate courtship display involving pairs meeting breast-to-breast and rising from the water, with lots of head shaking. As breeding red-necked grebes in the UK are so rare, the location of any pairs attempting to nest is kept secret to protect them from disturbance.”
The Black-necked Grebe is also a very rare breeding bird in the UK, listed as Amber on conservation lists, with only around 50 pairs breeding, making it an uncommon sight.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds explained that the Black-necked Grebe is rare in the UK due to limited habitat and threats like climate change, although it has been spotted on the south coast during the winter months before.
“This small Grebe has beautiful golden tufts of feathers on its face, contrasting with its black head and neck. Its steep forehead makes its head look ‘peaked’. A rare breeding bird, it is also uncommon in winter. It is listed as a Schedule 1 species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it an offence to recklessly or intentionally disturb these birds.”
Another rare bird was recently spotted in East Yorkshire for the first time in 34 years.
