Slavonian Grebe are extremely smart little birds. This one had been around at Cockwood for a while. I thought I would have a look this afternoon to see if I could find him, yes he is a male! To be honest I never expected to , like a needle in a hay stack really. When I arrived it was quite bright and sunny and the tide was on it’s way in. Cockwood is a beautiful little harbour that has probably not changed for hundreds of years. It is literally disected and protected by the main Railway line from Exeter to Plymouth, a feat of engineering by no less a man than Isambard Kingdom Brunnel. You approach the foreshore through a short tunnel under the line and then you are amongst the waders and sea birds opposite Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve and Exmouth. There is a vast expanse of Mussel Beds and a shore Line that teems with life particularly at this time of year. So, I see a small flock of Redshank with a single Whimbrel and Bar-Tailed Godwit and of course Oyster Catcher. Imagine my suprise when just off shore amongst the moored yachts a little black shape turns out to be our Slavonian Grebe.
I took over 400 photos of him and managed just a few that were OK because he was on the move constantly. Drifting with the tide and then paddling like mad to get back up stream. For a short while he was quite close to me but never close enough to give me a really great photo opportunity. I have to say that the red eye is an absolutely stunning feature of this bird, just like a bright shining ruby. He waqs diving constantly and I saw him catch a pipe fish which he soon swallowed.



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