Cattle Egrets

[jilla]

Has anyone seen one of these recently. I ask because according to our local paper one has been seen at Neston. It stopped by for a few nights. Appartanly they are usually seen further south. Be delighted if anyone can tell me a bit about them, as it looks cute.:)

[Jandy]

Would these, in the UK, not be more likely to be Little Egrets?

[chilternbirder]

Rarities usually get quoted in Derwent May's column in The Times on Saturdays. Always worth checking of you think something is around.

I agree that little egrets are reasonably common these days. I see them whenever I make one of my occasional visits to the Gwent Levels and have also seen one flying up the Chess valley in Bucks.

[Shamal]

Over the last 6 months or more there has been a huge influx of Cattle Egrets in the U.K. Most counties have been visited by one or more. Barely a day goes by without a new report of one from the rare bird reporting companies.
I suspect it's sign of things to come.

Sometimes you get these influxes, we had Rose-coloured Starlings all over the place for a year or two but they have now vanished and they're back to being an exciting rarity.

regards,
Shamal

[Shamal]

Just as an update. News has reached me that a pair of Cattle Egret have raised one young at an undisclosed location in Somerset.
Regards,
Shamal