Was It Worth It !

Slavonian Grebe - 24.03.2021

Over the last few weeks I've noted one or two Slavonian Grebes around the area but to get reasonable images they really need to be located on a relatively small lake very much like the last one I can across at Brickfield Lake in Rhyl North Wales. One such location caught my attention having seen images was a small lake in Kirk Hallam, a quick check on Google Maps confirmed the ideal location so a trip was planned over to the dark side !

Slavonian Grebe's can be describes certainly in the UK as a very rare breeder with only an estimated breeding population of around 20 pairs found in the very north of Scotland and the Shetland Islands so the possibility of images of a Slavonian Grebe on passage back to their breeding ground is a rare opportunity. 

On arrival I'm surprised to find the small lake is located quite close to a residential housing estate popular with walkers benefiting from a path that circumnavigates close to the lake, but not so much disruption to dissuade the grebe that's been in the area for quite a few weeks.

Before I commit to unloading the gear a decide to do a quick rece, having walked to the far side scanning there's no sign of the grebe and I'm beginning to reconcile myself it may have moved on. Then on the way back on the other side of the lake I locate the grebe, it's right under the bank diving and fishing along the edge, having initially scanned the centre of the lake and it's there all the while right under my nose !

Over the next hour or so I watch and follow the grebe as it's circulates the lake at times giving some very close encounters, far closer than I ever imaged possible occasionally surfacing with a small fish, I missed that shot ! Now around midday conditions have changed, the sun's out, great for sunbathing but not for photography, it's become busy with walkers enjoying the great weather signalling the grebe to seek a quieter location eventually tucking it's head under a wing for the remainder of my visit.

The morning has been a great session the afternoon not so much, the morning providing the only images worth keeping. I've seen two memorable birds in the last few weeks and this encounter will go down as one of the best.

Slavonian Grebe