Egret

(Egretta garzetta & Ardea alba)

Once a rare visitor to British shores, the Little Egret has become well established since the 1990s thanks to improved protection measures across Europe. From their first breeding in England in 1996, 5 years later there were 100 breeding pairs in the UK, including in southern Scotland. Nowadays there are well over 1000 pairs with over 10,000 more birds wintering here from the Continent. Great Egrets are following in their footsteps, becoming increasingly common and even breeding in some parts of the country.

Locally, Little Egrets have been recorded in Killearn since 2020, favouring the river systems of the Endrick and Blane Water. Great Egrets have also been spotted in these areas, with both species frequently seen at nearby RSPB Loch Lomond.

Fascinating fact:

The nape plumes of Little Egrets were once in high demand for decorating women’s hats, sparking the formation of the RSPB in the late 19th century to protect these birds from fashion-driven extinction.

The Little Egret, with its slender black legs and striking yellow feet, is a familiar figure along shallow riverbanks and marshes, using its feet to stir up small fish before snatching them with a sharp black bill. Slightly smaller than a Grey Heron, it also boasts a pair of delicate nape plumes during the breeding season.

The Great Egret, also known as the Great White Egret, is a larger relative – nearly the size of a Grey Heron – with a longer neck and a bright yellow bill that remains striking throughout the year. Both species are graceful and slow-moving hunters, quietly stalking prey through the shallows.

Did you know

The long black legs with bright yellow feet of Little Egrets help them catch fish – they stir up the mud to startle prey, making it easier to strike.