Egretta garzetta

An impromptu trip down to the RSPB Leighton Moss Reserve.  Clickychick as always was hoping for views of Otters, I on the other hand am always more interested in birds.  Otters are OK but birds come out tops.

Our first port of call was the Grizedale Hide where this Little Egret was feeding.  Little Egrets are the bird success of the lat 20 years.   In the wintering bird Atlas of 81-84 there was a single record country wide.  By the Breeding bird Atlas of 88-91 there were 3 records but no breeding (again country wide).   By the Breeding Birds of Cumbria Atlas 97-01 the discussion was "will it reach Cumbria".  Finally in 07-011 Atlas it is recorded in about a couple of dozen tetrads.