IN the avian world, one of the most elaborate courtship displays is performed by a pair of great crested grebes. At this time of year these elegant birds can be seen indulging in these displays along the river Thames and on any reasonably large lakes.

With much gesturing and posturing, the pair approach and face one another, heads shaking, preening and fluffing up tufts of head feathers rather like outsized ears!

They then separate and dive to emerge with pieces of water plant (pictured) in their beaks which they present to each other rather like bunches of flowers. Then, with much head shaking they suddenly stand upright and side by side, run rapidly along the water surface for several metres. They then separate but meet again when the courtship ritual is repeated, often many times.

In the nineteenth century, the grebe almost became extinct because ladies prized their head plumes to adorn their fashionable hats. Many grebes were caught until eventually, it became necessary to protect the birds and that took place when th RSPB was formed just in the nick of time.