Red-necked Grebe

The red-necked grebe is a medium-large aquatic bird. In breeding plumage it shows a black cap, pale grey cheeks and throat, rusty-red neck, dark grey back and flanks, and a long dark bill with yellow at the base. Winter birds are much duller, with a diffuse grey cap and whitish or pale-grey front of the neck. Its lobed toes and legs placed near the rear of the body make it an agile swimmer and diver but awkward on land. (Wikipedia, general species account)

Breeding birds favour shallow freshwater lakes, marshes and fish ponds, where a pair anchors a nest of water plants to floating vegetation. Courtship includes conspicuous paired displays and loud wailing calls. The grebe dives for fish and also takes aquatic insects from vegetation; like other grebes it swallows feathers, possibly helping protect its digestive tract. Migrants spend winter mainly on calm coastal water beyond the surf, although some remain on large inland lakes. Danger is usually met by diving rather than flight. (Wikipedia, general species account)