Success for one of UK’s rarest breeding birds follows restoration and extension of wetland habitat.
5 min read
A record 35 pairs of Black-necked Grebes were recorded on Woolston Eyes in Cheshire in 2025 – up from four breeding pairs in 2023.
The wetland site is now the UK’s most important location for the species, which breeds in only a handful of places in central and eastern England. With only 54 breeding pairs on average recorded in the UK each year, Woolston Eyes now supports 64% of the entire breeding population of Black-necked Grebes.
Black-necked Grebes are Amber listed on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern. Usually found in reedbeds and other wetlands, they are small glossy black and chestnut-coloured birds with striking tufts of golden feathers behind bright red eyes.
While Black-necked Grebes can be seen year-round, they are uncommon and restricted to just a handful of central and eastern England breeding sites. They are secretive when nesting but perform a spectacular courtship “dance” where the male and female swim in tandem, mirroring each other’s movements with head wagging. The display culminates with both birds rising out of the water breast to breast before they go on to build floating nests amongst the reeds.
The uptick in breeding numbers of Black-necked Grebes at Woolston Eyes has been achieved through a project jointly developed by the RSPB and Woolston Eyes Conservation Group to restore and extend precious wetland habitat.
The nature reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), managed by RSPB wardens and the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group. The site has been transformed from a neglected wasteland used for dredgings from the Manchester Ship Canal into a mosaic of freshwater pools, reedbeds, willow scrub and rough grassland. These habitats are home not only to Black-necked Grebes but also a stronghold for other special species including Willow Tits, Pochards and Grasshopper Warblers.
In 2021, the RSPB led a project to restore and extend the wetland habitat on one of the settlement lagoons which had dried out and willow scrub and invasive non-native plants had become dominant. Vegetation was cleared, the nutrient-rich topsoil stripped and used to build embankments around two shallow wetland areas, creating varied habitats and nesting islands. The aim was to attract Black-headed Gulls, which Black-necked Grebes nest beside for protection from predators, and to create shallow freshwater wetland habitat rich in invertebrate food sources.
Black-necked Grebes were already nesting on an adjacent wetland at Woolston Eyes before four pairs bred on the newly restored site in 2023, successfully raising 15 young.
As the wetland continues to be well managed, a record 35 breeding pairs bred in 2025, 29 of which nested on the newly restored wetland area. This success demonstrates the vital role targeted conservation work can play in supporting threatened species.
The rapid growth in numbers shows how effective targeted conservation action can be.”
Gavin Thomas, RSPB Ecologist, said: “It is fantastic to see Black-necked Grebe numbers increasing at Woolston Eyes thanks to the hard work of staff, volunteers and partners to create prime habitat for this rare and attractive species. The rapid growth in numbers shows how effective targeted conservation action can be and is a great example of nature thriving when it is given a chance.”
The recent hot weather and prolonged heatwaves across the UK present a concern for wetland habitats, with 90% of UK wetlands already lost in the past 100 years.
Whilst Woolston Eyes relies entirely on rainfall for the site to remain wet, water levels are dynamically managed so one area can be dried out, refreshed and reflooded to restore the habitat conditions Black-necked Grebes require, while the other areas continue to provide habitat for them.
This rotational management is crucial for the species as they will abandon sites quickly if the habitat deteriorates as it matures. In the face of climate change, dynamic wetland habitat creation, restoration and management by the RSPB and their partners is providing a vital lifeline for a whole range of wildlife dependent on the limited wetland habitat we have in the UK.
Gavin Thomas explains: "Woolston’s Black-necked Grebes are just a handful of the millions of breeding, wintering and migratory birds that rely on the UK’s internationally important wetlands. Seeing the number of Black-necked Grebes continuing to increase at Woolston Eyes makes all the hard work worthwhile. It demonstrates that restoring and managing wetlands is vital for species recovery, but we absolutely need to scale this up and deliver far more sites like Woolston throughout the UK.”
To visit Woolston Eyes, which is near Warrington in Cheshire, requires both an annual permit and a key to the access barriers and gates. Both are available for a small annual fee and can be applied for via the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group website.
The nature reserve is open from 8.00 am till 8.00 pm in summer and 8.00 am till 4.00 pm in winter.
