Michael Krause, Trustee of the Great Ouse Valley Trust, explains why we are seeing more Mediterranean members of the heron family locally.
The brilliant white Little Egret, with black legs and bill and yellow feet, is becoming a frequent sight. Its most common relative is the Grey Heron - unmistakeable when stationary along the bank as it hunts for food, and its broad dark wings making a distinctive outline in flight.
At the turn of century, birdwatchers wanting to see a Little Egret would head to the south coast, hoping to see one of very few pairs – it first bred here in 1996.
But now it is common across the UK and by 2015 there were more than 1,000 pairs resident. Normally close to even the smallest ponds and streams in Huntingdonshire, it is now a regular sighting.
Although there is no definite proof of why Little Egrets spread, it is very likely that climate change is playing a significant part by increasing the chance of birds surviving our winter.
When we have had a very cold period the population has declined, showing that milder temperatures at this time of year help these birds.
Bright, easily spotted and fun to watch, Little Egrets are an attractive addition to our landscape, although the speed with which climate change affects our wildlife is worrying.
The heron family is a large one and the number of other members found in the Great Ouse Valley has also expanded over the last 20 years.
The Great White Egret, for example, is a larger version of its smaller cousin but with black feet and a yellow beak.
The smaller-still Cattle Egret associates with sheep here, the Bittern can be heard booming in spring from Ouse Fen and Fen Drayton Lakes, and the Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill can both be seen close by. Use this link to see how to tell them apart https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/bird-families/ardeidae-herons
The Great Ouse Valley Trust promotes for public benefit the conservation, restoration and enjoyment of the landscape, wildlife and heritage of the Great Ouse Valley and environs in the county of Cambridgeshire. For more information about the Trust please visit: www.greatousevalleytrust.org.uk
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