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HISTORY OF THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE 

 IN DUMBARTONSHIRE. 



BY 



ALEXANDER CUTHBERTSON. 



In their paper " On the Great Crested Grebe as a Scottish 

 Breeding Species " {Scot. Nat., 1919, p. 71), Misses L. J. Rintoul 

 and E. V. Baxter state that " it is reported to breed on at 

 least one of the reservoirs on the Kilpatrick Hills." It is 

 somewhat surprising to find that, despite the conspicuous 

 plumage and remarkable structure of the Great Crested Grebe 

 {Podiceps c. cristatus), little information is available regarding 

 its occurrence as a migratory or breeding species in 

 Dumbartonshire, even twenty or thirty years ago. 



Prior to 1875 the Great Crested Grebe was almost 

 unknown ; but about fifteen years later it was on rare 

 occasions observed among the departing Wigeon in early 

 spring, and in late autumn, in mild weather. A pair was 

 seen about 1886 in Loch Humphrey, and several years later 

 in Fyn Loch, where in 1897 a nest with eggs is reported to 

 have been found by collectors of Black-headed Gull's eggs. 

 Three years later a pair were frequently seen on Cochno 

 Loch, but there is no record of their nesting. From 1900 

 to 1907 a marked increase in the numbers of Grebes 

 occurred on Cochno Loch ; they appeared at long intervals. 

 In 191 1 a nest is reported to have been found, but it 

 was not until 191 3 that the Grebes are definitely known 

 to have nested. On the 12th June of that year Mr. C. A. 

 Hamilton, of Barns, found the hatched eggs, but the chicks 

 lay dead upon the nest. In 1914, 1916, and 1917, the eggs 

 were taken ; and in 1918 and 1919 the parent Grebes "were 

 very unlucky with their progeny." In 1920 the eggs were 

 stolen, and in 192 1 the Grebes disappeared in late May. 



Adjoining Cochno Loch is Edinbarnet or Jaw Loch. This 

 loch was colonized in 1915, but personally I did not find a nest 

 with eggs until May, 1920. The eggs were taken, another nest 

 made, and a full clutch laid. A brood was, I believe, raised, 

 but in the following year no Grebes bred, although a pair 

 was seen by me on several occasions in early April. 



No information about the first nesting of the Grebe in 

 Gilshaw Loch, a few miles from Craigallian Loch, is to hand. 

 In late November, 191 9, I saw three flying from this loch 

 in the direction of Craigallian Loch. A pair bred on a sedge- 

 covered islet in 1920. In 1921 a pair nested among reeds 

 on the north shore but it is doubtful whether the eggs were 

 hatched. However, I found a nest with incubated eggs on 



