What am I?
I am a regularly spotted grebe.
Great crested grebe
Great crested grebe
Where do I come from?
I live on the Solent coast all year round.
A bit about me
I am a truly spectacular looking bird, I must say! I have beautiful head plumes and put on stunning courtship dances during the breeding season. I love diving for fish but sometimes I need to dive to escape predators too. Like other grebes, I’m a bit clumsy on land because my feet are positioned far back on my body.
Local spotlight
We can be seen in lakes, rivers, and in the sea around the Solent coast.
Conservation status
My name might not be listed in the Solent’s Special Protection Areas but I am still definitely important for the coastal ecosystem and form part of the non-breeding waterbird assemblages which these regions are protected for.
Fun fact
The highlight of our courtship displays is the ‘weed dance’. Both my partner and I, dive down to collect weed in our bills and then rise up out of the water, face to face. It really is glorious!
