THE GREAT-CRESTED GREBE 



PODICEPS CRIST ATUS 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Loon " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A somewhat scarce and 

 local resident, commonest in England and Wales, rare in 

 Ireland and the south of Scotland ; more widely dis- 

 persed in winter than in summer, and at the former 

 season frequenting the coasts. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Great-crested Grebe seems to be increasing 

 as a breeding species in the Metropolitan area. The 

 nearest breeding haunt to the city known to me is the 

 lake in Wimbledon Park, some seven miles from the 

 Cathedral. Another nesting-place is at the Penn Ponds 

 in Richmond Park, open to every observer ; whilst a 

 third is the lake in Osterley Park, on the nine-mile radius. 

 During winter this Grebe casually wanders to waters 

 much nearer the City, and is then seen in localities remote 

 from its breeding resorts. It has been seen on the Thames 

 between Charing Cross and Waterloo Bridges, and at the 

 reservoirs at Barnes. It appears to be rarer in the east 

 than in the west and south. I have a record from 

 Kingsbury Reservoir in winter, and I believe the bird 

 occasionally visits Elstree and the Welsh Harp. Records 

 of the species from Kent are meagre,and much concerning 

 its Metropolitan distribution requires investigation. 



The Great-crested Grebe, like the Coot, prefers a 

 large open sheet of water, where it has plenty of room 

 to retire from the banks when threatened by danger. 

 Although it can fly well enough when necessary, this bird 

 lives almost entirely in the water, where its diving powers 

 are amazing. It seldom visits the land, and here its 

 movements are awkward and shuffling. At some of its 

 London haunts the bird may be watched gracefully 



