The little egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Its colonization followed naturally from a range expansion intro western and northern France in previous decades. It is now at home on numerous south coast sites, both as a breeding species and as a winter visitor. It is included on the Amber List as rare breeding species.
Key ID Features:
Smallish, white, elegant heron with black bill, black legs and yellow feet.
Disturbs prey from muddy edges of water with it's feet or stands motionless ready to strike at prey.
Flies with withdrawn head, outstretched legs and slightly bowed wings.
Overview
Scientific name: Egretta garzetta
Family: Bitterns and herons (Ardeidae)
Where to see them:
All year round, although numbers incease in autumn and winter as birds arrive from the Continent.
Seen in UK:
Breeding birds arrive from March and return from July. Small numbers of non-breeding birds visit on passage migration in spring and autumn.
What they eat
Fish
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Photographer: Tim Tapley
