A winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe was discovered at Straws Bridge in Derbyshire a few weeks ago. The area consists of a small number of pools near Ilkeston. The bird then disappeared and was re-discovered only a few miles away on another small local lake at Kirk Hallam.
It has remained faithful to this pool ever since and I finally cracked on 22nd March, and made the short journey to go and see it. Well what a little “poser”. It performed only a few metres away and seemed unperturbed by my presence. I sat down on the bank-side of the lake and was able to take a good selection of photographs, before dog walkers went by and frightened it off. It moved away and went further round the lake-side and then became more distant, hiding amongst the overhanging trees and roots. By this time the lake area had got quite busy with people and so we decided to depart.
Slavonian Grebe is a rare bird in Derbyshire, with one or two records most years. I hope it stays around whilst it moults, as they are beautiful birds in their summer plumage
