Species - Black Necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Location - RSPB St Aidan’s Nature Reserve, Swillington, Leeds
Grid Ref - SE 39021 28346
With a cancelled weekend due to C19, I had a rare day to myself, and I was desperate to get out with the camera before lock down kicked in. I started trawling the web sites for any rare bird sightings, and saw that there were some Black Necked Grebes not far from me. A short drive later and I arrived at RSPB St Aidans to find that there was free entry and parking at all RSPB reserves for the unforeseeable future. Obviously keeping my distance from other people I had a leisurely stroll around the site where I was lucky enough to see not one but two pairs of Black Necked Grebes. Such stunning birds with them bright red eyes and a new species for me. With roughly only 32 breeding pairs in the UK I was extremely lucky to see them.
