Rare sighting of a Pied-billed Grebe at Hollingworth Lake

Photo: Ivan Ellison

The Pied-billed Grebe at Hollingworth Lake

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Keen bird watchers have flocked to Hollingworth Lake today (Wednesday 10 November 2010) following the sighting of a rare bird.

The Pied-billed Grebe, a small water bird, was identified yesterday and has caused excitement amongst twitchers across the country.

The last record of this kind of bird in Britain was in 2002.

The bird, a rare American vagrant, is similar to the fairly common Little Grebe, but is larger and has a stouter bill, with a distinctive black mark on the bill in summer plumage. In winter plumage the black mark on the bill becomes less obvious, even absent.

Hollingworth Lake isn't a migration hot-spot, being nestled centrally in the country, but it has played host to a couple of other nationally important rarities in recent years - in particular a Collared Pratincole which stayed for a week in late May-early June 1983 and a Black-winged Stilt which visited briefly in June 1993.

A spokesperson for the Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre said: “It is very unusual to see this bird here. People are coming to see it from various places. It is a very rare bird and not a strong flyer. It might well be the first time it has ever been seen here.”

Ranger Eleanor Sherwin said: “The bird was identified yesterday. It is not a native of this country so it is very unusual for it to be here. The nature reserve is really busy. The car park at the visitors centre is two thirds full today.”

United Utilities Headworks Controller, Chris Breen said: "You only get a sighting as rare as this very occasionally so it is extremely exciting.

"It is an interesting bird, which eats small insects, fish and other aquatic creatures from the water. Unlike most species of grebes they are rarely found in flocks. If disturbed, they dive headfirst under water, or they sink slowly into the water until only their heads are above the water, like a submarine periscope.

"Even though it is thousands of miles from home it looks extremely hardy, so it should have everything it needs here at Hollingworth Lake. We are hoping it might stay for quite a while."

Pied-billed Grebes migrate during September and October, migratory populations depart for the breeding grounds in March or April. Experts believe the bird was blown thousands of miles off its migratory route by strong south westerly winds.