The Slavonian Grebe is one of five grebes regularly seen in Northumberland. There is a sixth (the Pied-billed Grebe) but that is very rare indeed. In its summer plumage, the Slavonian Grebe is quite spectacular, with a black head and a large wedge of golden feathers sweeping back behind its eyes. In its winter plumage (pictured here) it is relatively plain, being just black and white, although it still has piercing red eyes. I normally see these birds distantly, on the far side of a lake, usually asleep. This is where I spotted this one, but it very kindly woke up and swam close by the north pool hide to do some fishing.

There is another very similar grebe called the Black-necked Grebe. It has a similar golden wedge of feathers in summer, and in the winter it is also black and white. There are a few subtle differences though. The Black-necked Grebe has a fuzzy curved border between the top and bottom of its head, whereas the Slavonian Grebe has a very sharp straight line under its eye. The Slavonian Grebe also has red at the base of its bill to its eye, and it has a pale patch between its bill and eye - you'd need to get pretty close to see these features though.