I’ve watched the Great Crested Grebes on Killingworth Lake
for a few years now, but even more intensely for the past two years, as I’ve been
so inspired by my fellow patch birder Sam, who I confess has done more watching
and definitely more photographing of these grebes than I have. We both have a growing knowledge of the grebe
family of species in general as a result of our efforts and subsequent reading. Without doubt the Great Crested Grebes
attract the attention of folk who would take little interest in the lake
otherwise! Having led over fifty people
around the patch over the past two or three years ensures (I would hope) that I
can’t be accused of a selfish outlook on patch birding. There is a great benefit in this attention,
in that the birds and situation are being watched and people are taking an
interest, more so this year than in any previous year I can remember. This can only be of benefit to the birds and
all concerned in a growing urbanisation of this area, so the more photos and
comments seen about the wildlife that exists here the better. It reminds the powers that be that there is
interest and that folk are watching! I’m still none the less
disinclined to give too much away about what I find on patch, as I believe the
best way to learn about nature is to go out and watch it for yourself and make
you own discoveries, or share this experience with like minded people.
Display
Mating
Laying the first egg
Sam and I have been asked how we know that we are watching
the same pair of grebes in recent years.
The simple answer is that we can’t scientifically prove we are, but
because of the nature of the behaviour and nesting habits of these very
productive birds, we are positive that it is the same pair that has returned
over the past few years. I’ve mentioned
some weeks ago that the pair was a month late in nesting this year, probably
because of the very cold spring temperatures.
The first nest was abandoned for reasons I have also mentioned in
previous blogs, but a second nest was built soon afterwards and two juvenile
birds fledged and subsequently dispersed. Dispersal took place very quickly this year, bringing at
least one comment from a visitor that dispersal could not have taken place and
that something may have happened to the juveniles prior to it happening. Sam and I are quite sure that these strong
and healthy birds did disperse. It so
happened that a juvenile Great Crested Grebe was reported at Arcot Pond about
this time and we are believe it was more than likely one of the Killingworth
juveniles. Whilst the juvenile birds
have tended to remain with the parent birds for longer periods prior to
dispersal in recent years, the literature suggests that the juveniles can be
independent by age of six weeks. I also
believe that the parent birds, having been delayed with the first nest, where
ready to follow their usual pattern and lay a second clutch and this is likely
to have encouraged the juveniles to move.
The Great Crested Grebes were found building a second nest
by Sam on 4th July. This
nest was attached to the floating structure (once the floating reed-bed, but
what many would now call a floating eyesore, and I can’t resist saying so once
again). This meant that the nest was
very close to the main road and footpath and so easily seen. We decided to keep this information to
ourselves so as not to encourage unnecessary disturbance (I am of the opinion
that our silence on discovering the nest site last year, it was in a very
vulnerable position on that occasion, ensured that the second brood was a
success, so I don’t deny silence can
bring positive results), but of course anyone with any interest would in
2013 have easily seen the nest and the bird’s activity. Perhaps not surprisingly many who pass this
area just don’t look. Some do of course
and have kept watch on the grebes activity, none more so than Sam and
myself. I’m a little surprised as I’ve
sat watching the activity at how many people have commented on ‘the ducks over there’ when referring to
the grebes. The good news with regard to
the floating structure, that is the
council have a grant and intend to renew the reed-bed, caused Sam and I concern about the grebes welfare, as we knew
this work was to begin at anytime. We
informed a council officer with whom we have trust in and we were assured that
no work would begin until appropriate, thus the work has been delayed. This promise, as I expected, has been kept. Hopefully the eyesore will be dealt with in
the coming weeks.
On the 5th July Sam and I watched grebes for
about one hour during which time we saw nest building, display, the female
lying in typical fashion on the nest inviting the male to mount, mating and
best of all, the laying of the first egg!
And then there were five
We have continued to watch the grebes on a regular basis and
the birds have been incubating five eggs.
Sam had the pleasure of finding the first chick on 30th/31st
July and there were two chicks on 1st August. On the 3rd August I was told by another
onlooker that there were now three chicks although after an hour of watching I
had seen only two, although only two eggs were still being incubated. I don’t know where the third chick had been
hiding, but on the 4th August I found the parent birds with four
chicks and still incubating the fifth egg.
Mouths to feed
Gratefully accepted
This pair of Great Crested Grebes are fortunately well used
to the presence of humans and don’t seem too troubled by it. Wildlife and humans can live close to each
other without too much stress if common sense is used. Sadly common sense is not always apparent. I’m told that at least on one occasion some
idiot with two dogs allowed them to chase Mute Swans in the lake nearby the
nest. A lady who had been watching the
grebes tried to stop this and was met with a torrent of foul mouthed abuse from
this ‘gentleman’. This small lady clearly wasn’t going to be
intimidated by this obviously ‘brave
gentleman’ and his two dogs and so took his photograph. Sadly Killingworth has its share of foul
mouthed ‘brave gentlemen’ whose only
defence when clearly in the wrong is to resort to foul language, shouting and
intimidation. Sounds a bit like schoolyard bullying
behaviour or perhaps a scene from the House of Commons.
It was interesting to note that the pristine white eggs soon
become stained. To my eye making them
look more attractive. I’ve noted that
even after the earlier chicks hatched that the male and /or the female bird continue
to fetch weed to add to the nest.
Perhaps some of it is being used to cover the remaining eggs/egg. The chicks seem to be well fed and at times
don’t seem too interested in taking the small fish brought to them. The parent bird at times seems to be acting
in a confused manner, swimming to and from at the nest, but this seems to be
the adults way of encouraging the chicks onto the water, in similar fashion
that I have watched other birds encourage chicks to leave the nest and fly.
The 5th August saw almost constant and at times
torrential rain fall so I shall visit again on the 6th August. The rain only became heavier and by tea-time
the paths outside were flooded. Sam
informed me that the lake was flooded.
Now he’s in Dumfries at the moment and
knew more about the patch than I did! By
mid evening the rain had cleared and the sky brightened so I decided not to
wait until a new day and I made for the lake.
I’m so pleased I made the decision as there were maybe eighty to one
hundred Swifts taking some of the many insects in flight as a Grey Heron stood
at the corner of the lake. I made for
the Great Crested Grebe nest and saw that there were no birds there. The last egg had hatched. I caught sight of the pair of grebes in the
centre of the larger lake and I could see that there were youngsters on one of
the birds backs. I did get a bit
closer. I believe it was the male
preening and the female carrying the young.
They’d made a wise move to the centre of what was a very flooded lake
after the heavy downfalls of rain. I
walked home deciding to try and check numbers tomorrow. I was rewarded with one of the best sunsets I
have ever seen over the lake and I took some images to prove it (shown in a
previous posting on this blog) as did another photographer who had been wise
enough to realise what might occur once the rains had cleared. What a wonderful summer 2013 has provided.
Keeping busy
Then there were four
Having now visited on the 6th August and found
the adult grebes with four juveniles I think that the fifth chick may have
perished. The Grey Heron is paying close
attention to the area, but I think the likely cause may have been the weather. It was good to find four healthy chicks, the
first to hatch looking considerably larger than its siblings.
I was able to confirm for definite that four of the juvenile
grebes have so far survived. I watched
as all fours changed from the back of one parent bird to the other as the sun
shone onto the lake. There has been two
days of dry sunny weather since the torrential rain. There seems to be plenty of small fish being
taken to the young. Good to see that on
13th August the family were together at the nest site with the four
youngsters being fed and growing quickly.
You can do it
Down it goes
Nice report and photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks.:-)
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