WESTERN REEF EGRET

6th June 2026

I was out locally with Malc, more to have a catch up than in expectation of good birds. We'd visited the limebeds, but there was nothing unexpected and the water was by now rapidly disappearing. Next stop, we thought, was probably to go and search for a reported quail in Knutsford, although enthusiasm wasn't high. I was just programming the sat nav when a forwarded message and photo appeared on the MC WhatsApp group - 'possible Western Reef Egret in Fforyd Bay'. The photo wasn't great but looked promising. The decision on where to go was made for us – the long wait for a tick (since September 2024) might just be over, and conveniently not too far from home. Paul Baker called and soon joined us. As we drove, there was further chat about possible hybrids. More photos appeared, and we all learned a little more about egret ID. Around 2 hours later we arrived and joined the 20 or so people who'd made it before us, armed with news that the ID was solid. The location was picturesque and the bird showed immediately, albeit a little distant and hazy at first.

WESTERN REEF EGRET OML! At last a tick!!!!

How easy was that for a first for Britain? This is one of those expected firsts; populations in western Africa had been expanding northwards and over recent years there has been a surge in records in Iberia and up the western coast of Europe. Still, it's always a surprise when it happens.

Within 30 minutes, the bird flew directly towards us and conveniently landed on the closest shore, affording superb close views. Over the next 45 minutes or so we followed alongside on the road as it made its way east along the bay, eventually disappearing into a creek. By now there were more people arriving, but the bird had moved out of sight and we presumed it would continue along the bay shore, moving with the tide.  To our surprise it appeared in flight, heading back west until it was lost to view, much to the annoyance of new arrivals.  Clearly, it was our time to depart, this had been about as easy a tick as is possible. I'd enjoyed the bird, even more so as it marked the closure of a particularly long tick-free period.  Next!!!