British Wildlife

Stodmarsh – displaying great crested grebes

Posted by Steve Parr on

18th March, 2026

The pair on the small mere in front of the David Feast hide at Stodmarsh are starting to nest build and also starting to court. They never quite reach the weed carrying climax of their intricate display but they come together often to dance and preen together, and briefly mate on a platform on the far side of the water. Shoveler pairs are also getting animated with occasional interlopers trying their luck but with little success.

Great crested grebe pair coming together first with some bill nibbling
The some head shaking and bill gaping
The ruffs become fully ‘ruffed up’
The female on the right is slightly smaller with a less elaborate ruff than the male
Mutual preening
And a scratch with a wonderfully designed lobed foot
The female has a stretch
And a full flap
The female comes over perhaps looking at possible nest sites
Portrair of a female great crested grebe
Distant mute swan along the River Stour; the woodlands beyond are still bare
Drake shoveler lands in a cloud of bubbles
Drake mallard pitching in to the marsh
Tufted duck with attiude
The beautiful purple sheen on the head of a drake tufted duck
Pair of gadwall; the drake with a patch of chestnut on the wing

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