Your Birding Month

Birds to find this month include Red-rumped Swallow, Cirl Bunting and Crested Tit!

The Slavonian Grebe is an exceptionally beautiful bird. It is also painfully rare as a breeding species in the UK. There are only about 30 breeding pairs, which nest in Highland lochs near the Great Glen and Strathspey area. Sites such as the RSPB’S Loch Ruthven allow the breeding beauties to be observed from the safety of hides. But, sadly, each year complaints arise from other sites where photographers have been accused of overstepping the mark in an attempt to get close-up shots, and abandoning of nests occurs. They are a little bigger than Little Grebes, but much more flamboyantly plumed, with reddish necks, and a black head with bold golden-yellow ‘ear tufts’. Slavonian Grebes are somewhat similar to Black-necked Grebes, though the former are more colourful and even more extravagantly plumed. Black-necked Grebes are similarly rare as breeders, but have a more southerly distribution, with scattered pairs across England, especially in the north and Midlands. In winter, the two species are even more similar in black and white. Slavonian Grebes are scarce but regular in the nonbreeding season, on the sea, off the Moray Firth or even off the Sussex coast. But to enjoy them at their best, head up to the Highlands during the breeding season. But make sure you don’t disturb these rare nesters.