Black-necked Grebe

 Podiceps nigricollis

Scarce and irregular visitor.

The Black–necked Grebe breeds by lowland fresh waters in the Palearctic and Nearctic, a proportion moving to estuarine waters in the winter. A small population breeds in the UK but it is likely that most winter visitors are from the Continent.

Apart from the statement by Mathew (1894) that they had been “several times obtained on the Pembroke River”, to date 27 individuals have been noted in Pembrokeshire in 20 separate years up to 2006.

The latest in spring was one at Garron Pill on the 20th March 1987, which had been present there from the 6th November 1986. The earliest return was of one at Newport on the 10th August 2004.

Most were recorded within the Cleddau Estuary, localities being the Gann / Dale, Angle Bay, Pembroke River, Carew, Garron Pill and the Daugleddau.

Elsewhere they were recorded once at Bosherston, three times at Newport, twice at Little Haven / Broad Haven (N), three times at Fishguard Harbour and once each at Llys y fran Reservoir, Treginnis Reservoir and Heathfield Gravel Pit.

All occurrences were of single birds except for two together at Angle Bay on the 24th December 1925, at Little Haven on the 5th January 1964 and at the Gann on the 26th December 2000.

References

MATHEW. M. 1894. The birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands, R. H. Porter.

Graham Rees

(Covers records up to and including 2006).