Rare Breeding Birds Arrive Back In Yorkshire After Record Year

A rare breeding bird has arrived back in Yorkshire after spending the winter months predominantly further south and around the coast. Black-necked Grebes have begun arriving back at RSPB St Aidan’s, where the nature park is home to around 30% of the UK population of this rare and vulnerable species.

Black-necked Grebes are one of the rarest breeding birds in the UK and RSPB St Aidan’s in Leeds is one of just a few places where they nest regularly and in significant numbers. This small grebe has beautiful golden tufts of feathers behind the eye, contrasting with its black head and neck and bright red eyes. Its steep forehead makes its head look ‘peaked’, making it easily identifiable for even the most novice of bird watchers or nature lovers.

Their arrival comes on the back of news being revealed today that in 2023 St Aidan’s Nature Park had its best year ever for breeding pairs of this rare and vulnerable species.

First colonised at the nature park in 2010, before the RSPB took on full management of the site, numbers of pairs increased quickly to 12 in 2015 and had been steady at around ten pairs per year up until 2019 when they responded to the habitat improvements made and spread onto the wet grassland.

Fast forward to 2021 and numbers jumped from ten to 17 pairs (full surveys were not done in 2020 due to covid restrictions) and in 2023 it has today been revealed that a record 18 breeding pairs were counted, as well as the joint second highest count of fledged chicks, 12 in total. The fact that numbers of breeding pairs are increasing offers hope for future numbers of fledglings to increase still further.

A numerous bird throughout North America, Europe and Asia, the UK is right on the edge of the Black-necked Grebe’s breeding range, and so the UK population is very small in number. Over the last five years, the population has averaged at around 54 pairs, meaning the species is listed on the amber list of conservation concern in the UK.

The news that this Yorkshire nature park has increasing numbers of breeding pairs marks a significant conservation coup for Yorkshire and the Aire Valley and RSPB St Aidan’s now holds approximately one third of the UK breeding population of this species.

Habitat works carried out by the RSPB’s expert conservation team have been crucial in their breeding success. Carefully managing water levels in the reedbeds and wet grassland, installing a predator exclusion fence in 2018 and creating new areas of flooded fen with shallow water and tussocky rush and reed rich in food sources have all played their part. This work in turn attracted Black-headed gulls to nest in these habitats thus providing added protection for the grebes; after mating the grebes build floating platforms of reeds as nests and, if a predator arrives, the gulls act as an alarm system for the grebes and their chicks and mob the predator to drive it away.

Added to this, around 20 local volunteers from the Leeds area and beyond worked hard throughout the winter to control encroaching scrub on the reedbeds and provide nesting platforms for the gulls.

John Ingham, Warden at RSPB St Aidan’s, said:
“Black-necked Grebes aren’t just one of the rarest breeding birds in the UK – they are also one of the most beautiful. They are unmistakable with that piercing red eye, and golden ear tufts. At a distance they may be quite unassuming with their diminutive size, but up close they are simply stunning.

“We work hard to maintain perfect habitat conditions for these birds and it’s a real privilege to be able to share them with thousands of visitors here in Yorkshire.

“Unusually for such rare birds, they can be seen close-up from the network of paths throughout the wetlands without causing disturbance. And this is one of the things that makes visiting RSPB St Aidan’s Nature Park so very special.”

Hundreds of wading birds pass through the Aire Valley every year on their migration route, such as Ringed Plovers, Green Sandpipers, and Black-tailed Godwits. And large numbers of Starlings for example will gather in the Autumn. The Aire Valley is an important east-west flyway across the Pennines with many species following the river and valley.

Black-necked Grebes will continue arriving at RSPB St Aidan’s during March and numbers are expected to peak in mid-April by which time they should mostly be paired up and start disappearing into the vegetation to nest.

Tom Harman, Senior Site Manager at RSPB St Aidan's, added:
“We absolutely should be making a song and dance about what a special place Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region are for nature and wildlife. If you hadn’t been here, you’d never know all this fantastic nature was on the outskirts of such a vibrant city.

“Based on the successful breeding season last year and mild winter, we would hope for good numbers of black-necked Grebe again this spring. But as with all wildlife, they are up against many challenges such as loss of wetland habitats, extreme weather events caused by climate change, declines in small fish and invertebrates they rely on for feeding, predation by non-native American Mink and potentially, increased incidences of diseases such as avian influenza. And so, we always have bated breath at this time of year when we’re waiting for them to return.”

Launching in April are a series of Yorkshire Black-necked Grebe events to introduce visitors to this captivating bird in its natural habitat, as well as learn more about its history and breeding data with the expert warden team. To witness the grace and beauty of these elusive creatures, visit: RSPB Events.

For tips on where to spot the Black-necked Grebes, visitors can ask at the welcome point on arrival at the nature park and are asked to always stay on the paths to avoid any disturbance to the birds.