Great crested grebe pair drop in for the Easter holidays
ON EASTER SUNDAY Warden Sam Halpin was checking our outflow sluices along the River Arun when she spotted a Great Crested Grebe on the river. Storm Katie on the Monday seemed to move the grebe into the reserve and he has been showing at various hides for the past week. On Friday he moved over to Arun Riverlife area, brazenly cruising by our cafe windows in the afternoon. Just after closing time on the following Sunday WWT staff spotted that a female great crested grebe had landed on the water to join him!
Great crested grebes are famous for their mating ‘dance’. One will dive and emerge directly in front of the other, rearing high in the water but with its head arched down. The other grebe will then extend its cheek frills and the two will begin shaking their heads at each other. They will dive and emerge with greenery in their bills to present. The pair then rear up and meet breast to breast with more head shaking before the settling back down into the water.
Guide in the Hide Jeremy checked his records and the last pair of great crested grebes we had in was in 2013. They do drop in every couple of years but this is the longest they have
stayed around the site and our visitors have been getting some great shots. We are seeing more of the grebe in the afternoon so they may be popping out to the River Arun in the mornings.
Spring continues to unfold with coots and moorhens chicks and mallard ducklings hatching out now. Lapwings are still displaying with 7-8 pairs established around the site.
Brimstone butterflies are appearing regularly too.
