ID please

[colt41]

I wonder if somebody could help with the ID of this duck please. Photo taken today in the Tees Estuary off Bran Sands. I think it has a look of the Grebe family. It had a long pointed yellow beak/bill. The top of the head was black and seemed to have a tuft at the rear, it had a white face and long white neck, and MAY have had a redish tinge to the back of the neck. It's body was darkish and had a white flash at the rear side of the body. It was quite distant from the shore and was alone.
I apologise for the quality of the photo but even with a bigish lens it was difficult tp pick out.
Thanks for your time .
Peter Harris

[IanF]

You're right it's a Great Crested Grebe. I usually see quite a few in Seaton Channel though from Seaton Snook side usually. Post breeding and over winter quite a lot move onto the sea for several months.

[colt41]

Thanks for that. I did think it was a Great Crested Grebe, but i didn't realise that they ever went into sea water.  Having read your posting, i read my Bird book properly. Thanks once again.

Peter Harris