Most walks along the Lark valley in Bury are now rewarded with a sighting of a little egret in, or close to, the water, brilliant white. The RSPB says the little egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Its colonization followed naturally from a range expansion into western and northern France in previous decades. It is now at home on numerous south coast sites, both as a breeding species and as a winter visitor.
Little egret is not to be mistaken with the much rarer great white heron, although they look similar from a distance. This BTO video explains the differences, but look out for the yellow feet and black bill of little egret.
This video was taken from the Lark bridge at the Crankles (facing the Abbey gardens) in February 2017.
