ON THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE 75 



Moray. 



Elgin. In 191 2 a pair of Great Crested Grebes arrived on a 

 loch in this county and remained during the summer months, but 

 neither nest nor young ones were seen. In May 191 3 a nest 

 containing one sucked egg was found; a second nest was made, 

 and the Grebes were seen in July swimming about with one young 

 one. This is the only definite record of the Great Crested Grebe 

 breeding north of the Grampians. 



As far as we can ascertain, these are the only areas in which the 

 Great Crested Grebe is known to have nested ; in winter they leave 

 their breeding lochs and frequent the coastal estuaries and bays, 

 where they may be seen in ones and twos or in small parties, which, 

 as spring approaches, break up into pairs and betake themselves to 

 the fresh water. Before leaving the salt water a modified form of 

 their nuptial antics often takes place. They also visit, irregularly, 

 fresh-water lochs and rivers where they do not nest; even in the 

 breeding season birds, sometimes in full nuptial plumage, may be 

 found on lochs far from their breeding haunts. It may be of interest 

 very briefly to indicate its status in the other areas of Scotland. 



Dee. 



Saunders in his Manual, p. 717 (1899), says it probably breeds 

 on a loch in Aberdeenshire ; but Sim in his Fauna of Dee {published 

 1903) regards it as a rare visitor only to the area. 



Argyll and Inner Hebrides. 



An uncommon visitor to the area; two pairs in breeding plumage 

 were seen on a loch in Tiree, 22nd May 1900 {A.S.N.H., 1901, 

 P- 145)- 



North-west Highlands and Skye. 



A fine specimen, in full breeding plumage, was seen on Loch 

 Borrolan. W. Sutherland, on 7th May 1903, which left soon after; 

 two had been seen on the loch since the previous February 

 {A.S.N.ff., 1904, p. 127). We have been able to find no other 

 record for the area. 



A rare visitor. 



No record. 



Sutherland. 



Outer Hebrides. 



