Egret

In the UK, egrets are recent colonists although their numbers have been growing over recent years. Part of the same family as herons, spoonbills and bitterns, Little Egrets first appeared here in significant numbers in the late 1980s. Spoonbills and Great White Egrets are less frequent winter visitors although the number of sightings has increased.

The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white bird, similar to a heron, with snowy white plumage. Standing just over half a metre high, the adult can have a wingspan of more than a metre. It has long black legs with yellow feet and a sharp black bill. It is mainly silent but can produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed.

It enjoys a diet of fish, amphibians, worms and insects and can be seen at the water’s edge fishing for food throughout the day or roosting in low trees at night.

Having become a regular visitor to the UK, it is now found all year round and there are now nearly two hundred breeding pairs, mainly in the South of England. Poole Harbour (Brownsea Island) became the home of the first pair known to mate in the UK in 1996 although there are unproven earlier claims.

During the autumn and winter, its numbers grow to over fifteen hundred as individuals arrive from mainland Europe. Locally, it may be seen at Christchurch Harbour, Poole Harbour and Radipole Lakes in Weymouth although more adventurous specimens are being seen further and further inland as each year goes by. Although its preferred habitat is marshland and shallow fresh and coastal waters, it may be also seen on river banks inland.

The Great White Egret (Egretta alba) is an occasional visitor with an average of ten sightings each year. It is a larger bird, of similar size to the grey heron which frequents our waterways, with the adult wingspan being one and a half metres. It has black feet and a yellow beak. It can be seen in any wetland habitat but predominantly in South East and East Anglia. Its diet of fish, insects and frogs, caught by spearing with its long, sharp beak, is similar to that of the Little Egret.

The Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) can be seen in coastal areas including, locally, at Arne in Poole Harbour. It is also white although slightly smaller than the Great White Egret and has black legs and bill. In the breeding season, it has yellow on its breast and bill tip. The beak is spatulate, resembling the spoon for which it is named. Its diet is mainly aquatic insects and small fish.

I am often asked why I called the company White Egret Limited. For many years, my husband and I have enjoyed bird watching locally. Although we are far from expert, we have gained great pleasure from seeing birds such as the Little Egret flourish across the area of Dorset and beyond that is the “territory” of White Egret Limited.

As the Little Egret overcomes the challenges it faces in expanding its territory and flourishing, so White Egret Limited helps businesses to overcome their challenges and flourish.

For a free initial session contact Julie on 01202 768574 or e-mail julie.leigh@whiteegret.co.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you.