Purple herons breed for the first time in the UK

[davecatt]

The first ever brood of Purple Heron have hatched at Dungeness. Another good reason not to expand the nieghbouring airport onto this valuable Nature Resreve!

Full story here.
Wildlife Extra News - Purple herons breed for the first time in the UK

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Nice one!

[aeshna5]

Let's hope they fledge successfully!

[Pete Collins]

I heard this reported on the news on Classic FM this afternoon. It is good news, and good that it's got out into 'the media'.

[Hobjob]

Did they have a 24 hour watch on the eggs?

[Connor7]

The purple Heron was my first ever 'rare' bird that I photographed (at Dungeness) and was surprised to see the exact pair on the news the next day!

Thanks for sharing the article with us Dave !

[rlchew]

Excellent news!

However, it is not that surprising since a pair of Purple Herons has been in the Denge Marsh area now for many weeks.

What is it with all these herons? .... first Little Egret, then Cattle Egret and now Purple Heron .... what will be next as a new breeding species?

If anyone wants to see this important milestone in the history of UK breeding birds, then you can but you need to be quick ....

Purple Herons at Dungeness

I will certainly try and get down to Dunge either this weekend or next.

Richard

[aeshna5]

Guess we're all waiting for the Great White Egret to breed as they have become a much more widespread species in recent years following their success on the near continent.

Guess Glossy Ibis is a contender in the future as we've had a couple of irruptions of this species in recent years as numbers in Spain have increased.

[rlchew]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Guess we're all waiting for the Great White Egret to breed as they have become a much more widespread species in recent years following their success on the near continent.

Guess Glossy Ibis is a contender in the future as we've had a couple of irruptions of this species in recent years as numbers in Spain have increased.

Good call on both counts I would say!

Richard

[rlchew]

I went down to Denge Marsh/Dungeness yesterday to see the Purple Herons.

I thought I would intially head for Dengemarsh Road rather than joining the throngs at the RSPB Dungeness reserve.

When I arrived there were just 2 other vehicles plus and RSPB vehicle. Across Denge Marsh itself, through the heat haze, I could see many people on the RSPB reserve all scanning with binoculars and telescopes.

I waited I guess for about an hour for a Purple Heron to appear but there was a supporting cast of Hobby (at least 3 hunting), Marsh Harrier (male hunting) and Yellow Wagtail (2-5).

Eventually a Purple Heron did appear and surprisingly close to where we were watching. I am not sure how good the views were from the RSPB reserve but they would have been distant and affetce by the heat haze. The Purple Heron showed twice for a few minutes before again disappearing out of sight in to the reeds.

I only saw one bird of the breeding pair and still have no idea where the nest is. However, it was still my first UK record of this species since one in Norfolk in 1993 .... well worth waiting for!

If anyone is intending to visit the area for the Purple Herons, I would certainly suggest the Dengemarsh Road (near the 2 farms) as an alternative viewing point.

Dengemarsh Road

My quick trip to Kent was rounded off well with close up views of 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the beach at Camber.

Richard