TBOSG     Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

Until the 1950s, Little Egret was restricted to southern Europe. Over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding in the 1990s. In Great Britain it was rare until the late twentieth century and almost certainly did not breed. In contrast, it has now become a regular breeding species and is commonly sighted, often in large numbers at favoured coastal sites. The first breeding record is generally accepted as having been on Brownsea Island in Dorset in 1996, although it has been claimed that the species bred in Sussex in the '70s. There are now several colonies across southern England and the species bred in Wales for the first time in 2002.

Earliest: All months.

Latest: All months.

Highest Count: Seven on February 28th & April 2nd 2010 at Pool Farm near Oldbury.

Little Egret is far from common in S. Gloucestershire, those reported are;

Little Egret bird days in S. Glos for 2010: NB: Severnside represents Severn Beach, New Passage and Northwick & Aust Warth's. OPS represents Oldbury Power Station, Shepperdine and surrounding areas.

The first record of Little Egret for the Marshfield patch. February 2010. © Martyn Hayes.

2009:

Little Egret bird days in S. Glos for 2009: NB: Severnside represents Severn Beach, New Passage and Northwick & Aust Warth's. OPS represents Oldbury Power Station, Shepperdine and surrounding areas.

2008:

Other sightings: One was noted at Latteridge near, Iron Acton on December 13th.

2007:

Oldbury area: Two were reported from Oldbury-on-Severn on January 16th; Littleton Warth had one on September 9th and a further sighting on November 10th; At Leap Valley in Downend single flyovers were reported on May 4th and 10th.

2006:

Oldbury area: Single birds were noted at Oldbury Power Station on January 17th, March 13th, March 23rd at Pickedmoor Lane, Oldbury-on-Severn, March 26th on Lagoon I, April 16th - 17th on Lagoon I, April 29th, June 4th, August 28th and October 24th on Lagoon III; One was seen on Littleton Warth on December 27th. One was noted at Leap Valley in Downend but no date is available.

On Severnside: There were twenty-two bird days logged:

2005:

Oldbury area: Single birds were seen at Oldbury Power Station on January 2nd & 8th, March 5th, and October 9th with two present on August 28th on Lagoon III and September 29th on Lagoon III; One was seen at Oldbury -on-Severn on December 21st; One was noted on Littleton Warth on December 17th & 20th.

On Severnside: A total of fourteen birds days were logged:

2004:

At Oldbury Power Station: One was present on December 11th - 12th.

On Severnside: A total of sixteen bird days were logged:

2003:

One was reported from Littleton Warth on November 15th.

On Severnside: A total of twenty bird days were noted:

2002:

At Oldbury Power Station: One was present on November 17th and December 24th.

On Severnside: A total of twelve bird days were recorded:

2001:

At Oldbury Power Station: A single bird flew up river on December 2nd.

On Severnside: A total of seventy-three bird days were logged:

2000: (c.10)

At Oldbury Power Station: Single birds were seen from August 26th - 28th, September 10th, November 24th & 26th and December 22nd; At Littleton Warth: One was present on September 18th; On Severnside: Single birds were noted on three dates in August, October 20th - 22nd and regularly between November 4th until December 27th; Three were seen on November 11th; One was seen on several dates at Orchard Pools.

1999: (c.7)

At Oldbury Power Station: A juvenile was present from September 3rd - 19th and was joined by a second on September 5th; On Severnside: Individuals were logged on April 30th, May 2nd, July 30th - 31st, August 14th & 23rd, September 26th and December 14th.

1996: (c.5)

Single birds were noted at Oldbury Power Station on August 10th & 15th and December 8th (also seen at Littleton Warth on December 8th; On Severnside individuals were seen on August 2nd, 8th & 9th, October 23rd and December 8th, 26th & 28th.

1995: (2)

One was present for around a week in late January and early February at Cromhall in flooded fields, and again from March 9th until at least March 15th; One was present to the south-west at Severn Beach on September 24th.

1994: (1)

One was seen on August 16th on Northwick Warth.

1993: (c.6)

One was seen on Northwick Warth on May 24th. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species in S. Gloucestershire. One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on July 23rd and represents the first record for this site; One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on August 17th with two present on August 18th; One was seen at New Passage on August 18th - 19th and at Severn Beach on August 19th; Single birds were seen at both Oldbury Power Station and Severn Beach on August 22nd; Three were present on Northwick Warth on August 25th.

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