Rosie's UEA Ecology Blog

A Great Crested Grebe swimming on the UEA lake. This was a lone grebe patrolling its territory and displaying in the hope of attracting a mate. A spectacular bird with a head crest like the mane of a lion, the Great Crested Grebe ( Podiceps cristatus ) is the star of the UK breeding birds. Known for their elaborate courtship displays during the breeding season, it is difficult to overlook Great Crested Grebes when they are looking for a mate.  The courtship display involves calling, swimming together, rising up out of the water and shaking their heads, and presenting each other with a beak full of water weed. The same lone Great Crested grebe, swimming with head extended out in front of its body and low to the surface of the lake whilst calling. A pair of Great Crested grebes displaying by following each other, the grebe at the back has its head thrown back over its body. Despite their elegance on the water, Great Crested Grebes are rather clumsy on land, due to their legs being qu...

  A fresh purple and white-striped crocus flower. One of the first signs of spring is the emergence of spring-flowering crocus. Crocus is both the Genus and common name, and consists of around 90 known species, of which the UK has 3 'wild' species: Crocus vernus  (Spring crocus), Crocus tommasinianus (Early crocus), and Crocus nudiflorus  (Autumn crocus, which flowers in autumn, as the name suggests), as well as many cultivated varieties and hybrids. All species have been introduced to the UK from their native range across Eurasia, and are now widespread. They come in a wide variety of colours, including purple, lilac, white, yellow, blue, and two-tone striped colours. White and lilac crocus flowers. Crocus are grown from 'corms', similar to bulbs, which are short, swollen stems used to store energy reserves. The corm is covered in specialised leaves which have a scale-like appearance, and are used to protect the lateral buds. The stems of crocus remain underground as t...