Slavonian Grebe - a new species for the Republic of Serbia

Stara Moravica, 6th April 2008

One Slavonian Grebe was observed and photographed on April 6th 2008 feeding and swiming in a flock of 22 Black-necked Grebes on accumulation ”Stara Moravica” (Vojvodina, N Serbia). This is the first documented observation of this species for the terrritory of Serbia.

There are several historical data on presence of Slavonian Grebe in Serbia, but there are no museum specimen or photographs of the species. Most of this observations are from the begining of 20th century.

Accumulation ”Stara Moravica” is a 3 km long artificial lake which stretches SE towards Krivaja. The lake was visited in a company of Robert MacCurrach on April 6th 2008. We paid attention to a booming Bittern some 200 m far from the nearest houses. There were also numerous breeding Great Crested Grebes, several Grey Herons, Mallards, about 40 Pochards, a single male Tufted Duck, exciting Marsh Harrier pair in courtship display, plenty of Moorhens and Coots, numerous Barn Swallows, several Sand Martins, Yellow Wagtails on migration, 3 singing Black Redstart males, a few Sedge Warblers, 2 territorial Savi’s Warbler, several Chiffchaffs, Peduline Tits in reedbeds, Goldcrests flying over, 2 territorial Reed Bunting males.

We walked about 1 km downstream and observed a flock of 22 Black-necked Grebes swimming on water surface close to the reedbed. For several times they were chased away by a local Great Crested Grebe pair. One of the birds we saw was obviously bigger and had different plumage. This bird was diving most of the time and I had a rare opportunity to take a photo of it. Photographs revealed the mistery: this was a Slavonian Grebe. Whole lake was checked the next morning, but only a single Black-necked Grebe was found. We assume that grebes were on a short stopover during migration.
 

Text and photos:

Milan Ružić

Slavonian Grebe in a flock of Black-necked Grebes