90 The Great Crested Grebe Enquiry and Census of 1931. 
Pairs in Year of 
Site. 1931- Colonization. 
Renishaw Park, Sheffield ... ... ... 1 Missed in 1930. l 
Nested for many 
years ; one pair 
only. 
Notes on the Above. 
I am sure that when I first visited Walton Park in the late nineties 
of last century, there were two or three pairs of Great -Crested Grebes 
on the lake. But Mr. Simpson, who resides at the hall, assures me that 
there has not been more than one pair yearly for the last ten years. 
This appears to be rather strange, as this large lake offers them security, 
and is noted by anglers for its roach and perch. 
The only reason that I could assign when I was there on June 27th was 
a flock of Canadian Geese and a pair of Mute Swans with cygnets. The 
male swan, although he did not appear to interfere with the Grebes, was 
continuously and furiously driving the Canadian Geese all over the lake, 
thus camsing a great commotion on the water, and I was assured that 
this was his daily routine. 
The most extraordinary water affecting the increase of the Great 
Crested Grebe in the West Riding is Fairburn, a shallow lake of recent 
formation due to coal mine subsidence, and although approaching 
Hornsea Mere and Malham Tarn in area, is not on the map. Fortunately 
we have a good ornithological history of its growth from our fellow 
member, Mr. W. G. Bramley, who lived on its shore until 1926. It was 
at first occupied by a nesting colony of Black-Headed Gulls, a few pairs 
of which 'still remain in spite of the islands and tussocks each year 
becoming fewer as the water increases. But the history of the colony 
of Great Crested Grebes concerns this paper most, and is as follows. 
In 1921 there were three pairs ; in 1922 two pairs ; in 1923 six nests ; 
in 1924 ten to twelve nests ; in 1925 three pairs nested ; in 1926 four pairs 
were seen with broods. For 1927 we have not any record. But during 
1928, 1929 and 1930 there was an extraordinary increase ; Mr. Arthur 
Whitaker, who visited Fairburn in each of these three years, assures me 
that there were at the very least twenty to twenty-five — and possibly 
even thirty — pairs present. On one visit in 1928 he saw sixteen nests 
with eggs without investigating the whole area. On May 31st, 1931, 
together with Mr. Bramley, we made a most careful search with the use 
of a boat, which usually had not sufficient water under it to float it. 
We returned ten and a half pairs as the total population of adult Great 
Crested Grebes. We found six nests with eggs and one pair already 
had four young on the water. Mr. Whitaker told me that I could easily 
double the number, so I made another very quiet and careful visit on 
August 3rd. On this occasion I counted fifteen pairs with young on 
the water, and another bird was sitting on a nest in the open water — 
possibly a second brood. 
Besides the Grebes there were large numbers of Coots, many Black - 
headed Gulls, several Tufted and Shoveler Ducks, etc., and on May 31st 
no less than thirty-two derelict Mute Swans ! ! They were not nesting 
and were probably birds that had been driven away from other waters 
by mated pairs. How such a large assembly of birds could possibly get 
a living on such a shallow piece of water was a puzzle. Besides, I was 
assured on good local authority that the only fish it contained were 
sticklebacks and a few pike in the deeper drains. However, we saw 
two good-sized dead roach, and I managed to catch one in a bucket that 
had got into difficulties. This latter we took ashore still alive and 
1 I regret that I overlooked this site in my “ British Birds ” list 
The nest contained deeply incubated eggs on July 2nd, 1931. — (A. 
Whitaker) . 
The Naturalist 
