heliastes21's Journal

The little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) is the smallest species of gull in the world. It is a highly migratory species, nesting in northern Scandinavia and the eastern Baltic Sea, but wintering further south in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean off North Africa. This dainty gull is most often seen in the United Kingdom during its northward spring migration, though small numbers remain in the Irish Sea, English Channel and North Sea throughout the winter. Numbers seen in winter around the UK vary annually depending on weather conditions; during onshore gales they may be reported from coasts and occasionally inland. The number of wintering birds recorded in the UK seem to be increasing (+410% increase from 1995/96 to 2020/21), a trend that likely reflects general range expansion in western Europe. In 2016 they successfully nested for the first time in Great Britain at the RSPB reserve at Loch of Strathbeg in Aberdeenshire. I have seen this species at RSPB Minsmere (Suffolk), NWT Cley Marshes (Norfolk), Whitlingham Broad and Thorpe Marshes (Norwich) in spring and autumn.

The black-necked grebe, otherwise known as the eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is a rare breeding species in Britain, its small population is largely restricted to central and eastern England. During the winter months however, the species may be found more widely on both inland and coastal sites. It is listed as a Schedule 1 species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it an offence to recklessly or intentionally disturb these birds.

It has recently been discovered, as a result of genetic analysis, that grebes are the closest living relatives of flamingos and that in fact they are rather distantly related to other diving birds such as ducks, loons and coots. There are 22 extant species of grebe (though I have only observed four). I have previously only spotted the eared grebe in the Algarve Portugal. This is my 215th British bird species on iNaturalist.