Attenborough nature reserve

[Bono1985]

There was a little egret at attenborough saturday which i didnt see. Is there any chance it might still be there how long do they stay in one place for

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Bono1985

There was a little egret at attenborough saturday which i didnt see. Is there any chance it might still be there how long do they stay in one place for

I my experience if you see a little egret in locality, odds are it Ill be there again. Here in south england little egrets are as common, if not more so than herons in sutible habitats (i think they perfer swallower water)

A quick look at the sightnings page here show little egrets quite frequently recently, often more than one. And where as 10/15years ago little egrets were rare vagrants there now resident and probaly hang around one area providing theres enough food/room

Hope you see your egret, Im sure you will soon if not striaght away, there one of my favourite birds

[LUPUS]

I hope you get to see your bird they are nice and were quite approachable when I used to see them in county cork but whether they will stay long at Attenborough with all the joggers , dog-walkers and cyclists well thats another matter altogether, if you are local to this area keep an eye on the sightings pages of DOS or Notts Birdwatchers they do turn up in quieter locations

[Gill Catton]

I think they become more widely distributed during the winter months, so if you see one in winter in won't necessarily be there all year....

[paulchandler6]

Little Egret's are quite widely distributed at the moment. In the winter they become more coastal.
UKwildlife is right, they were a rare bird 10-15 years ago. I travelled down to E Sussex to see my first one. Now we have them breeding in the county.
Eagerly anticipating the 1st flyover from the garden.
Paul

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by LUPUS

I hope you get to see your bird they are nice and were quite approachable when I used to see them in county cork but whether they will stay long at Attenborough with all the joggers , dog-walkers and cyclists well thats another matter altogether, if you are local to this area keep an eye on the sightings pages of DOS or Notts Birdwatchers they do turn up in quieter locations

Attenborough used to be one of my favourite sites, but not at the moment, for the reasons quoted above. As for their sightings board, from my experience you have to take them with a huge pinch of salt. I'm not saying they're making them up, but some have access to areas that the public don't and many sightings are made there. Their Bittern has always been elusive to me, despite going at one time on a daily basis at the correct time and place, but I never managed to see it.

[matt_xyz]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Attenborough used to be one of my favourite sites, but not at the moment, for the reasons quoted above. As for their sightings board, from my experience you have to take them with a huge pinch of salt. I'm not saying they're making them up, but some have access to areas that the public don't and many sightings are made there. Their Bittern has always been elusive to me, despite going at one time on a daily basis at the correct time and place, but I never managed to see it.

I can vouch for the existence of the bittern though

I've often wondered whether most of Attenborough's sightings are made by staff in the out-of bounds delta area.

I've been meaning to go to Attenborough for a while, but haven't been since May. It would be nice to see a Little Egret and it should be easier to spot than the bittern

Matt

[Tursiops2]

Anybody who wants to see little egrets should get down my way, I saw 15 on the Orwell yesterday . They're present (in varying numbers) all year round now. Cracking birds, one of my favourites.
T2

[LUPUS]

I don't think all the sightings are made up i just find it hard to believe that so many birds are there at all and some definitely won't stay for long, I struggle with the place as I don't like crowds, also I seem to recall the Egrets were reported on "Barton Flashes" which is on the other side of the river nothing to do with the reserve really. The Bittern if it is reported this winter I intend to investigate myself ( thumbscrews at the ready ) I think an expanse of water like this has the ability to draw birds in but holding them there with all the disturbance is another matter

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by LUPUS

I don't think all the sightings are made up i just find it hard to believe that so many birds are there at all and some definitely won't stay for long, I struggle with the place as I don't like crowds, also I seem to recall the Egrets were reported on "Barton Flashes" which is on the other side of the river nothing to do with the reserve really. The Bittern if it is reported this winter I intend to investigate myself ( thumbscrews at the ready ) I think an expanse of water like this has the ability to draw birds in but holding them there with all the disturbance is another matter

Your last comment is a good point. The Bitterns don't breed there, they just drop in in the evening for a change of scenery! I might try going to Barton Flashes, I went there last year and parts of it looked quite promising, although I didn't actually see anything!
My problem with Attenborough is probably more to do with me going too often, the more I went the more the cyclists, dogs etc. annoyed me. I know they've every right to be there, just as much as I have, but they still annoyed me!