Great White Egrets are set for a UK conquest, says STUART WINTER STRAGGLY reed fronds were dancing to the powerful rhythms of Storm Eleanor’s ominous approach. The little egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. Founded in the UK in 1946 by the late Sir Peter Scott, today we complement wetland conservation work carried out worldwide with a network of UK visitor centres comprising 2,600 hectares of globally important wetland habitat. The little egret is a small, white heron that feeds on small fish and crustaceans. In line with a range expansion within Europe records began to increase towards the end of the 20th century and since then its status here has changed dramatically. Great White Egret (Great Egret, Great White Heron) Ardea alba (Egretta alba, Casmerodius albus) Until recently Great White Egret was a very rare visitor to the UK from Europe. A Great White Egret was seen in flight from the Reedbed walk area in the morning which is the first sighting of the year of this species, also at least 2 Little Egret around today. Latest Sightings of Great Egret The latest sighting details and map for Great Egret are only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers. Once a very rare visitor from the Mediterranean, little egrets are now a common sight around the coasts of southern England and Wales as they expand their range, possibly due to increasing temperatures caused by climate change. A record count of 3 Great White Egret on the reserve over the weekend with at least two present today. The other first sighting was of a Hobby in flight over Vinson's Marsh from Ron Barker Hide this afternoon. Abstract Records of the Great White Egret Ardea alba have increased significantly in Britain in the last 20 years. A Great-white Egret also put in an appearance to day with one spending some time on Kilnsea wetlands then flying off north. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Published on 07 May 2013 in Main articles. Its colonization followed naturally from a range expansion into western and northern France in previous decades. Another wild and windy weekend. WWT is one of the world's largest and most respected wetland conservation organisations working globally to safeguard and improve wetlands for wildlife and people. A great white egret chick has hatched in England, making a new breeding bird record for the UK, Natural England has said. Please login … The species now occurs throughout the year in some parts of the country, and is sufficiently numerous for a population trend based on WeBS Core Counts to be produced. Other sightings of interest were a brood of 5 Shelduck chicks accompanied on the Humber, 2 Wigeon and 5 Teal Kilnsea wetlands, 5 Green Sandpiper returning on Canal scrape, with 3 Willow Warbler and 2 Sedge warbler were new migrants with 4 Grasshopper Warbler in the area. Great to be typing this out on Monday morning in relatively light winds and full sunshine, almost feels like spring. The changing status of the Great White Egret in Britain. Also Teal and Shoveler from Ron Barker. By Chas Holt. Sightings of the great white egret (Ardea alba) have been increasing steadily in the UK over the past 20-odd years. A great white egret chick has hatched in England, making a new breeding bird record for the UK, Natural England has said.