Red-necked Grebe photographed at Rousse [ROU] on 22/2/2014 Photo: © Mike Cunningham (visit site)

Noted as a regular autumn and winter visitor by Smith, the occurrence of this species has not changed. Although not present every year the species has favoured sites at which they may remain for long periods during winter. Occasionally cold weather force birds off the continent and an influx is noted in local inshore waters.

Normally the species seems to favour sheltered coastal waters and Grandes Havres and Belle Greve seem to be ideal in this regard with the majority of records. However the species has been reported from many bays except those on the south coast.

The first returning birds can be reported in early October but normally it is not until the middle of January that the majority of birds arrive. Numbers tend to remain at the same level with a noticeable decline at the end of March. The last records tend to be in mid April. Most reports are of single birds but small groups have been found involving three birds together at Rousse and Bec du Nez The biggest influx in the past thirty years was in February 1996 with at least ten birds noted at six sites. Interestingly Smith noted a influx in November 1875 when it was reported to be the commonest grebe in the island.

A note by E J Davies on a Red-necked Grebe creating a nest of bladder wrack Fucus vesiculosus at Chouet in November 1979 is reported in British Birds 76.3 page 135