Female Great Crested Grebe on her nest.
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Great crested grebes are the largest grebes in Europe, with a range spanning from Britain to Russia. It is a graceful bird, with its long neck, long bill and slender outline. Once persecuted for their feathers, their population was devastated, but following conservation measures, numbers have greatly increased.

These grebes are well known for their elaborate courtship displays. In summer, the adults of both sexes are adorned with beautiful head-plumes, and perform elaborate courtship rituals, where pairs raise and shake their heads and approach each other with weed in their bills.

While the sexes are similar in appearance, but great crested grebe juveniles can be distinguished by the possession of blackish stripes on the cheeks. After hatching, the chicks are carried around on the backs of their parents.

Grebes are essentially diving waterbirds, and with legs set back, are clumpsy on land. They feed on small fish and aquatic invertebrates, using its slender bill to lethal effect, sometimes taking fish too big to swallow.

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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF WILDLIFE.

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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR FAVS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR COMMENTS........TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE AND WILDLIFE

Great crested grebes during courtship. Caught them just as they were about to go under a bridge.

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Great Crested Grebe (podiceps cristatus}

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Tags:   Nature Through The Lens

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