Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis, 小鸊鷉).
Common through much of the old world, little grebes are year-round residents in Changsha: always to be found in the river, especially in the early mornings, and throughout the lakes and canals. In those rare moments when there is not much other noise, one hears their trilled 'wheat-wheat-wheat' call echoing across the water.
The first photo was taken 11 October 2022 early in the morning at the Xiang River (湘江). The second, showing the grebe in its breeding plumage was taken in the afternoon 2 April 2022.
