Our resident Great Crested Grebes are building a nest on the loch below the osprey nest. They have been seen catching rather large fish (for them!) and taking it in turns guarding the nest (not necessarily sitting on it) before going off to fish or gather nesting material.

 

This nesting material can vary from sticks, to lily pads and even dead and rotting vegetation and the grebes are frequently seen ferrying this material about the loch. They have also been straying close to the hides, allowing visitors to get a view of their splendid plumage, before diving under the water in search of fish and the odd lily pad. Hopefully they will soon lay eggs and, crossed fingers, we will have little Great crested grebe chicks paddling about the loch.

Melissa Shaw
Visitor Centre Assistant