 Great White Egret (Ardea alba) . Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on September 29th 2021. Taken at Otmoor, Oxon., on September 29th 2021. (1/1250th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings)  Great White Egret (Ardea alba). Taken at Leighton Moss, Lancs, on August 1st 2014. Taken at Leighton Moss, Lancs, on August 1st 2014. (1/400th sec at f11. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description WS: 145 - 170 cm; L: 85 - 100 cm The Great White Egret is a large all-white heron, about the same size as a Grey Heron. Non-breeding birds have an all-yellow bill. Breeding birds have darker bills, and they develop long, wispy back plumes. Legs are variable in colour, but the feet are always black. It is found mainly in southern and south-east Europe, also in India and south-east Asia, north and South America and central and southern Africa. It is an increasingly common sight in the British Isles. It bred for the first time in England in 2012. It breeds in colonies at large, shallow, swampy lakes, preferably in reeds, with some low bushes and trees. Nests are built in trees. It is a partial migrant, with European birds wintering in the British Isles, Mediterranean regions and north Africa. The Great White Egret is of Least Concern in the IUCN list. Sightings | 12-Apr-2024 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (3) | | 16-Mar-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (4) | | 02-Feb-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Jan-2024 | : | Slimbridge, Glos | (1) | | 26-Jan-2024 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 26-Dec-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Sep-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Aug-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 18-May-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 20-Apr-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 16-Apr-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Feb-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Feb-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Jan-2023 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 20-Nov-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (3) | | 13-Nov-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (4) | | 08-Oct-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Feb-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 23-Feb-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 30-Jan-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Jan-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 16-Oct-2021 | : | Appleford GPs, Oxon | (1) | | 29-Sep-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 16-Sep-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 14-Feb-2021 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Jan-2021 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (2) |
| | 16-Oct-2020 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (1) | | 15-Oct-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (1) | | 14-Oct-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 13-Oct-2020 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 14-Mar-2020 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Feb-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (4) | | 27-Jan-2020 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Jan-2020 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 11-Dec-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 04-Oct-2019 | : | Overy Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 03-Oct-2019 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (1) | | 08-Jan-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 20-Dec-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | (1) | | 12-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | (3) | | 05-Feb-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 16-Dec-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Jan-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jan-2017 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 24-Dec-2016 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Nov-2016 | : | La Janda, Spain | (1) | | 31-Jul-2016 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 24-Oct-2015 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) |
| | 01-Aug-2014 | : | Leighton Moss, Lancashire | (2) |
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