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The Ôweed danceÕ a courtship dance between an adult breeding pair of great crested grebes. The male grebe collects weeds and other foliage in order to woo his mate.
This sequence was pictured by Andrew Morkot, 56. The risk consultant said, ÒA courtship behaviour, called the ÔWeed DanceÕ takes place across the UK in February and March.Ó
ÒCourtship and Bonding before and during nest building. The process stops when the birds take turns incubating the eggs.Ó
ÒThe Weed Dance takes about 30 seconds to complete. it is comprised of, swimming away from each other, synchronised diving for weeds, rising up to the surface to present their finds, then dropping down again, throwing the weed away, and then head waggling for a little while.Ó
Please byline: Andrew Morkot/Solent News
© Andrew Morkot/Solent News & Photo Agency
UK +44 (0) 2380 458800
*** Local Caption *** Where : Killingworth, Near Newcastle Uk
Lake: Yes: Killingworth Lake
Bird: Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps Cristatus). Adult breeding pair
What are they doing: A courtship behaviour, called the ÒWeed DanceÓ - takes place across the UK in Feb and March - Courtship and Bonding before and during nest building. Stops when the birds take turns incubating the eggs (2-4)
How Long: The Weed Dance takes about 30 seconds to complete - from swimming away from each other, synchronised diving for weed (sometime both bring weed to the dance, sometimes not), rising up in the water to present the weed, then dropping down, throwing the weed away, and then head waggling for a little while.
GCGs, whilst widespread in the UK now, have been heavily persecuted in the past by the Millinery industry (hat making), their ÒtippetsÓ (frame of feathers that grow for the breeding season) being highly sought after for ladies hats and fascinators. Nowadays, these birds have evolved a wariness of humans so are quite shy.
The chicks, when young, have an unique bare patch of skin on their foreheads that turns bright red when the chick is agitated - itÕs thought that this can be used by the parents to know which chick to feed.
56, Risk Consultant, Gateshead UK
2024-03-20
Andrew Morkot/Solent News & Photo Agency/Solent News/East News
Solent News
Andrew Morkot/Solent News & Photo Agency
SN_GREBE_DANCE_06
11,65MB
62cm x 45cm by 300dpi
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