Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Calvert Lake - August 2008
Above photos copyright
Kevin Holt
Above photos copyright
Tim Watts
Present from 19th August until 31st August at least. This colour ringed bird was ringed at Gwent Levels, South Wales on 23rd June 2008. This is the first recorded sigting of this bird. The second photo up shows the bird in an defensive posture when it was being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls.
Little Marlow GP - 2nd August 2005
Photos copyright Chris Gooddie
During July and August Little Marlow has become a regular roost site for Little Egrets with up to eight being seen some evenings, some arriving in semi-darkness. The birds roost on an island which also is a roost site for Cormorants, Grey Herons, hundreds of Jackdaws and other species.
Calvert Lake - 22nd July 2005
Photo copyright Tim watts
The summer of 2005 has seen a definite increase in reports of this species from within the county.
Calvert Lake - 9th October 2004
Photo copyright Tim watts
This species is now being seen on a monthly basis from sites across the county.
Willen Lake - 9th July 2004
Photo copyright Mike Wallen
This picture shows 3 of the 5 Little Egrets that were present. It is thought that these birds were this years brood from nearby Linford.
Chenies - 1st Jan 2004
Photo copyright Mike Collard
This bird was one of several at the regular roost at Chenies (See pictures from 2002 below). There were a total of 14 Little Egrets along the River Chess between Chesham and Chenies. This species can now be regarded as "resident" in the county.
Linford - 2003
Pictures courtesy of Graham Rowling
These pictures, taken in late June, show the first confirmed breeding of Little Egrets in Buckinghamshire and presumably one of the first inland breeding attempts for this species in the UK.
The first Little Egret sighting in the county was as recently as 1989. Sightings gradually increased during the 1990s and into the 2000s, resulting in this successful breeding attempt.
Video still courtesy of Mike Collard
Picture courtesy of Rob Andrews
These seven birds were at Chenies on 3rd March 2002 and represented a record count for Buckinghamshire at the time. A day or so later another bird arrived increasing the count to eight.
Digital Photo supplied by Rob Andrews
Little Marlow GP - 2nd September 2001
Video still courtesy of Dave Ferguson
After an exceptional run of Little Egret sightings at Little Marlow, this individual decided to hang around for a few days and gave closer views than the bird on 26th August. It had no difficulty catching fish as it ran through the shallows, stirring up fry and picking them off one by one.
Little Marlow GP - 26th Aug 2001
Video still courtesy of Dave Ferguson
This individual was one of two birds present at Little Marlow GP on 26th August 2001. The birds had apparently flown in overnight and were seen roosting in trees on the main island and actively feeding. (The goose in the background is a Bar-headed Goose)
Picture courtesy of Rob Andrews
This individual was captured on digital camera at College Lake. It was one of an unprecedented influx into the county and follows the steady annual increase of sightings of this species in the county. During the same week there were sightings at Little Marlow (3), Shardeloes, Broughton and Willen Lake.