Cattle egret in Essex

[Tursiops2]

Just seen this reported on Birdguides. Somewhere near Colchester apparently. Anybody know more details?
T2

[MagpieMick]

Cattle Egret is c.7mls ESE of Colchester NE of Great Bentley in Field viewed from A133 in layby..

Good Luck..

Mick..

[Tursiops2]

Thanks MM, is it just one?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Very good year for them. Won't be long before they're breeding here. My money's on Dorset or Cornwall.

Cheers,

Adam

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Very good year for them. Won't be long before they're breeding here. My money's on Dorset or Cornwall.

Cheers,

Adam

Indeed it is, and not just CE. Which do you think will breed first, Adam; Cattle egret, Glossy ibis or Great White?
T2

[John]

Out of that trio I would go for Cattle Egret. Glossy Ibis seem to have been well represented this year but that's not the case normally. G W Egrets turn up in singles but Cattle Egrets sometimes turn up in numbers of two or more at times.

Mind you I tried to find one on Sunday near Slimbridge and that is the only day it went missing over the last couple of weeks.

John

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Indeed it is, and not just CE. Which do you think will breed first, Adam; Cattle egret, Glossy ibis or Great White?
T2

[MagpieMick]

Yes, I agree John Cattle will if they haven't already six birds were sighted awhile ago if my memory is right Cornwall about a month ago...

Same about you missing the Slimbridge bird, John as its still there....

[GuyF]

There have been up to 6 Cattle Egrets together in Dorset over the last month or so, it would be nice to have them breeding here.
Guy

[Tursiops2]

It would be wonderful if they bred here, but it's a strange thought, isn't it - a bird normally associated with herds of Wildebeeste on the sun-baked African savannah, colonising old wet-and-windy Britain? Mind-boggling really.

Would there actually be enough food to support a breeding population? They eat large insects/small mammals/reptiles etc. disturbed by animals, yes? Aren't such things generally on the decline in GB?

[Adam Cheeseman]

As John says, Cattle Egret.

Cheers,

Adam

[John]

That's Africa

You should see them in Spain. Apart from mountains I have seen them in most habitats. I even had them in woods and orchards a couple of weeks ago as well as walking along main roads with no fear of traffic.

John

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

It would be wonderful if they bred here, but it's a strange thought, isn't it - a bird normally associated with herds of Wildebeeste on the sun-baked African savannah, colonising old wet-and-windy Britain? Mind-boggling really.

Would there actually be enough food to support a breeding population? They eat large insects/small mammals/reptiles etc. disturbed by animals, yes? Aren't such things generally on the decline in GB?

[aeshna5]

They are real pioneers- they colonised the Americas naturally, also in Australia + most warmer parts of the Old World. I wouldn't be surprised if they start breeding here in next few years, possibly also Great Egret.

Glossy Ibis have only recently started breeding in last few years in south of France, so maybe one day!