Part 58

In winter the adult is brown on the back, spotted with small white spots. The under parts are pure white, and head and neck, on which the feathers are very downy, are greyish brown on the crown and nape and white on the chin and throat. In summer the white spots on the back disappear; the crown and nape are slate grey streaked with black; the sides of the head and neck are pale grey and there is a longitudinal patch of chestnut down the fore-neck. The sexes are alike in plumage. The young bird in winter may be distinguished by the spots on the back being longer and tending to form arrow-shaped markings, and the feathers of the vent have narrow brown margins. Length 24 in.; wing 11·2 in.

THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podicipes cristatus (Linnæus)

In the course of these pages we have often had to lament the extermination or decrease of many species, so that it is a real pleasure to have to record that a fine species like the present has increased abundantly of late years.

This has been largely brought about by very strict protection, and although still local, there are many places where it is now common, and in Scotland it breeds on several lochs as far north as Aberdeenshire. In Ireland also it nests in several localities. It is practically a resident and may be found with us at all times of the year, but after the breeding season the majority leave their summer haunts and may be found in the estuaries and bays along the coast. The nest is a large floating mass of decaying vegetation generally well hidden among thick reeds, though occasionally it is placed in the open. The eggs, usually four in number, are yellowish white when first laid, but soon become stained to a dirty brown from contact with the decaying vegetable matter with which they are always covered when the sitting bird leaves the nest. The young when first hatched are dark brown, longitudinally striped with white; they are carefully tended by both their parents, who often carry them on their backs. The food consists of fish, crustaceans, and any other living food which may be found.

This bird may usually be seen swimming about in the centre of the open water, its long neck and low flat back enabling it to be easily recognised.

It flies well and strongly, appearing when on the wing rather like a Duck.

In winter it is dark brown above and white below, but in spring it assumes a chestnut tippet which surrounds the face; the crown of the head is dark brown, the cheeks and a stripe over the eye white.

The female is rather duller but otherwise resembles the male. The young in their first plumage are much like the adults in winter. Length 21 in.; wing 7·5 in.

THE RED-NECKED GREBE Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert)

On the east coast of England this species is not uncommon during the winter months, and in some seasons becomes quite abundant. Elsewhere in our area it is decidedly rare, and not more than five or six examples are recorded from Ireland. It is plentiful in the south of Scandinavia, the Baltic, and North Russia, whence it migrates southwards throughout Europe in the winter. In habits and food it does not appreciably differ from the preceding species.

The crown and nape are blackish, upper parts dark brown with a white patch on the secondaries.

Cheeks, chin, and throat grey; neck rich chestnut red; rest of under parts white. Length 18 in.; wing 7 in.

THE SLAVONIAN OR HORNED GREBE Podicipes auritus (Linnæus)

This is a northern species, breeding in Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia, which visits our shores, especially in the east, annually, and in the north of Scotland it is quite common. Ireland is also regularly visited on migration every year.

In summer the upper parts are dark brown; the crown, forehead, chin, and tippet black, and a tuft of elongated feathers on each side of the head chestnut. Secondaries white, except the three outer ones, which are dusky like the primaries; neck, breast, and flanks warm chestnut; belly white. In winter the crest is absent; the under parts are white. The young resemble their parents in winter dress. Length 13·5 in.; wing 5·5 in.

THE BLACK-NECKED OR EARED GREBE Podicipes nigricollis, C. L. Brehm

Unlike the preceding species, this is a southern Grebe, stragglers of which are occasionally met with most frequently in spring, and there is evidence that it may have nested with us on more than one occasion. To Scotland and Ireland it is a very rare wanderer.

The adult in spring has the head and neck black with a triangular patch of yellowish chestnut feathers on the ear coverts; upper parts dark brown; under parts white; flanks chestnut. All the secondaries white, and a good deal of white on the four innermost primaries. Bill black, up-curved in front of the angle. In winter the ear tufts and black on the throat are lost, and at this season it closely resembles the preceding species, but the white on the primaries will always serve to distinguish it. Length 12 in.; wing 5 in.

THE LITTLE GREBE OR DABCHICK Podicipes fluviatilis (Tunstall)

The Little Grebe is abundant on rivers, streams, and ponds throughout the country, but becomes scarcer in the north of Scotland. It must be tolerably familiar to every one as a short squat little bird that dives at the smallest alarm, only coming to the surface again some distance away, most often among the reeds and aquatic vegetation near which this bird is always found. The nest is a fair-sized mass of dead weeds floating on the surface of the water and generally moored to some reed stems.

The eggs, usually five in number, are of a uniform yellowish white, but soon become discoloured by the weeds with which they are always covered when the bird is not sitting. The nestling is striped, and fed by its parents on insects and small fish. These birds are seldom seen on the wing and hardly ever on land, but nevertheless they are well able to stand up and even walk when on shore.

In summer the plumage, except for the cheeks, throat, and sides of the neck, which are chestnut, is dark brown all over, rather lighter on the under parts.

In winter the chin, neck, and under parts are nearly white. The plumage of the young resembles the winter dress of their parents but is a little duller, and there is more white about the cheeks. Length 9·5 in.; wing 4 in.

THE STORM PETREL Procellaria pelagica, Linnæus

This is the commonest of the Petrels which come to our shores to breed, for as a rule these birds live far out at sea and only visit the shore to breed or when driven inland by stress of weather or on migration. About their migrations little or nothing is known, but in October and November this species regularly strikes many of our lighthouses and lightships, being attracted by the light. It is found along the whole of the countries fringing the Atlantic, and nests from the Faroes southwards, and also along the shores of the western end of the Mediterranean.

The single white egg is deposited during the latter half of June down holes in heaps of stones, in rabbit-burrows, or in any other spot affording suitable concealment. Incubation, which is probably undertaken by both sexes, lasts about thirty-five days, the nestling when hatched being covered with long black down. Their food consists of crustaceans, small fish, and fatty matter of any kind. They are nocturnal, during the breeding season at all events, only leaving their retreat after dark and returning before dawn, so that it is very difficult to detect their presence. The sitting bird, however, utters a curious note while sitting, and a strong musky odour pervades the burrow, so that by this means the nest may frequently be found. If handled, the bird emits a greenish oil.

In England it only nests sparingly on the coast of Wales and in the Scilly Islands, but in Scotland and Ireland its breeding places are numerous.

The adult is sooty black all over, but the bases of the tail coverts are white and the edges of the wing coverts are slightly edged with white. Length 6·5 in.; wing 4·7 in.