GO WILD WITH ERIC PAYLOR

MANY of our birds are opting for different environments ahead of the arrival of the winter months.

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None more so than the great crested grebe, some of which have already deserted their breeding sites on our lakes in preference for life on the sea.

Tom Williams reports seeing no fewer than nine great crested grebes on the sea off South Gare last week.

These birds may have flown in together from Scandinavia to escape from the oncoming ravages of snow and ice, or maybe local birds escaping anticipated frozen lakes in Cleveland the near future.

Great crested grebes are magnificent birds to admire in the summer, as can be seen from John Money's superb picture.