On Monday I made my way to Staines Reservoir, just south of Heathrow Airport in search of wintering divers and grebes. The site consists of two huge reservoirs split by a central causeway.
I was fortunate that not long after I arrived, two birders directed me to where 2 Black-Throated Divers were located in the north eastern corner of the reservoir. Although distant, I was able to make out the distinctive features which distinguish them from Great Northern Diver, the other diver species often present on the reservoir.
Moving along the causeway, I kept scanning the reservoir to the north and then located a Great Northern Diver at the far northern end of the reservoir.
After having seen two of my three target species, I stopped for lunch overlooking the southern reservoir. Here there were Coot and Tufted Ducks in large numbers. Another passing birder told me that a Black-necked Grebe had been located at the Stanwall end of the causeway and so I set off to try and find it. Amazingly it was swimming with Tufted Ducks and Coots not far from the causeway. This was the closest view I have had of this small Grebe and what was even better was that it was already developing its spectacular breeding plumage. I have never seen one on their breeding grounds in Scotland and have to date only seen them in their winter grey and white plumage.
Also seen during my visit were Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Mallard, Gadwall, Cormorant, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and a Redshank.
Although not a very large number of species, some pretty special birds were seen, especially that close encounter with the Black-necked Grebe.
Just for reference, this is a picture of a Black-necked Grebe in full breeding plumage
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