Pied-billed Grebe

 The Somerset birding year got off to a flying start in February with the discovery on Ham Wall of the first county record of Pied-billed Grebe, an american relative of the Little Grebe, which is a common resident on the Avalon Marshes. The bird was first seen by an RSPB volunteer manning one of the viewing platforms, but it was too late for any other birders to see the bird before dusk.

At dawn the next morning, an expectant crowd of birders from Somerset and further afield had gathered in the hope of seeing the bird, but thick fog meant that the area it had been feeding in wasn't visible.

The anxiously waiting twitchers

At 8:30am the fog had just about lifted enough to see the reedy channels favoured by the bird the previous day, and it wasn't long before it was spotted through the gloom

The Pied-billed Grebe continued to show well as it moved around the newly flooded area, frequently diving and catching small fish. Eventually, the fog burned off, giving much clearer views, though the bird had moved a bit further out onto the water by this time, a bi too distant for good photos with my camera setup, but still giving excellent scope views

One of the resident male Marsh Harriers provided some welcome entertainment during periods when the Pied-billed Grebe was hiding behind the reeds.

The Pied-billed Grebe obviously likes the habitat at Ham Walls, as it is still present now, 3 weeks after it was first seen. It has been seen calling and displaying so is apparently looking for a mate. Given the rarity of the species in the UK it is almost impossible that it will find another Pied-billed Grebe, but previous vagrants have been known to hybridise with Little Grebes. It would certainly make an interesting addition to the breeding birds of the Avalon Marshes if it happens!