Little Grebe

A once common sight at the reservoir with up to 5 pairs breeding in the 60's. With much less vegetation in the water this birds sadly breeds no more but is still regularly seen, particularly in winter.

breeding plumaged little grebe, baz stevens

21/03/35 - 'Several' birds

14/07/35 - 'Some' with young

25/03/36 - Single bird

No records between 1937 & 1939

25/03/40 - 3 birds, chasing each other

No records between 1941 & 1953

1955 - Pair bred. 1st breeding pair for 'several' years

1956 - Pair bred

29/09/57 - Maximum count of 16 birds

1958 - Bred

1959 - Bred

14/09/59 - Maximum count of 19 birds

1960 - At least 5 pairs bred

1961 - Bred

1964 - Infrequently noted but no evidence of nesting

1965 - Pair bred

1966 - 5 pairs bred

1968 - Maximum count of 8 bird

09/06/71 - Nest & eggs

27/07/72 - 2 juveniles

29/12/73 - 2 birds

1975 - Bred

1976 - Pair bred

1977 - Sightings of a breeding pair & 2 young birds

1978 - 2 'families'

1979 - Bred

1981 - 2 pairs noted

30/07/83 - 4 birds, including 3 young, at nest

1984 - Pair bred successfull

16/06/84 - 6 birds including juveniles

19/08/85 - 6 birds (probably family party)

??/04/86 - Heard calling

??/04/87 - Pair

little grebe in winter plumage, baz stevens

1988 - Pair raised a single young bird

1994 - 2 birds seen in the 2nd winter period

??/11/96 - 2 birds

29/10/97 - 2 birds

08/11/97 - Single bird

14/09/98 - Single bird. 2 birds were seen on 18/09

02/10/98 - 2 birds

??/11/98 - Single bird

10/01/99 - Single bird

20/03/99 - 2 birds

15/04/99 - Single bird

15/10/99 - Single bird. Seen again on 19/10. 2 birds present on 21/10 & 3 on 28/10

12/11/99 - 5 birds

13/12/99 - Single bird. 3 were present throughout the month

2000 - Single on 26/07 then singles throughout September and a single on 21/10

2001 - Singles seen each month from July to November

2002 - Single on 10/04 then singles on at least one day each month from August to December

2003 - Single on 16/03 then singles on several dates in October and November

2004 - Pair on 02/03 with other single records during the month. Singles in August, October and November

2005 - Singles in August, October, November and December

2006 - Singles on 22/07 and 12/10

2007 - Singles in September, October and December with 3 on 31/10

2008 - Recorded on 13 dates with 1 seen on many August and September dates that may have been a bird that was released after being in care. 7 were recorded on 22/07/08 though these were present just for 1 day

2009 - Recorded on 21 dates with ones or twos. None in the months March to July

2010 - Recorded on 9 dates. All singles spread through the year but not in April/May/June

2011 - Recorded on 14 dates through the year, all singles apart from 2 on 26/03

2012 - Recorded on 15 dates through the year, all singles

2013 - Recorded on 12 dates. Singles apart from 3 on 12/12. One on 25/08 was seen to be ringed with a standard BTO ring

2014 - Recorded on 7 dates. Singles apart from 2 on 13/09. One seen on 7/07 and 9/07 was a juvenile

2015 - Recorded on 7 dates. All singles with one on 5&6/07 being a juvenile

2016 - Recorded on 8 dates. Ones or twos

2017 - Recorded on 17 dates. Ones or twos

2018 - Recorded on 46 dates. Max of 4 birds on 07/03. Up to 3 regularly in December. This is the best year for them here since 1999

2019 - Recorded on 56 dates. 1-3 birds. Increasingly regular in the last few years

2020 - Recorded on 33 dates with one or two birds

2021 - Recorded on 12 dates in winter. All singles apart from 3 birds on 22/11 when cold weather brought these in along with 3 Goosanders, 3 Goldeneye and 3 Wigeon, all of which were gone the next day

2022 - Recorded on 12 dates with a maximum of 3 birds

2023 - Recorded on just 4 dates in January, April and November, all singles.