Black necked grebes #48

In an effort to go somewhere quiet on today's bank holiday, we headed to Woolston Eyes, which is a permit only nature reserve in Warrington. Success, there was only one other car there when we arrived! 

Here we have a healthy population of black necked grebes which are not so common in the UK - only around 50 breeding pairs. Apparently there are at least 26 birds at Woolston Eyes this year, which is great. They are not so happy to have their photograph taken though, mainly sticking to the reeds and under water. 
We had the place to ourselves and it was only when we hit the 3rd out of 5 hides that we met someone. Both a cuckoo and a male garganey had been seen earlier this morning, but obviously they were nowhere to be seen now, but it was so lovely walking in the sunshine that it hardly mattered. By the time we got to the last hide, I had only taken 3 shots of an abandoned lapwing nest on the scrape and two butterflies, both of which I have already blipped recently, so I was still in need of a blip. I really wanted to get the black necked grebe or we had seen some distant pochard which would also have been great if they came a bit closer with their rusty coloured heads. The pochard in extras seemed like it was favourite as the grebes were sticking to the far side reeds. 
On the way back, we passed the first screen again and this is where we found these threes beauties hanging out, ducking and diving, and happily in reasonable range. 

I've had a wonderful long weekend, but now need to do a few chores and preparations for an early start again tomorrow for my short trip to Paderborn again. Maybe it won't be so wet this time - fingers crossed.