Great White Egret on Saltmarsh Pool, Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve - 3rd Nov 2011
A Great White Egret has been reported here on Saltmarsh Pool, since 1st November. Today was the first opportunity we have had to view it and were fortunate, on arrival at 10.30 am, to see it immediately.
Although there were several birders in Maryland Layby, it showed no nervousness and continued to hunt both on the Saltmarsh and the Pool … very active but continually under attack from the resident Lapwings and, to some degree, the Gulls - although all kept a healthy distance away, not pressing home the attack. Two Grey Heron were present and from time to time made sudden and determined attacks but it merely moved 20 or 30 yards and proceeded to feed again.
A large group of Snipe now resident on the Pool, were very wary of it and on its approach, quickly scuttled away or occasionally went into a couple of fear flights. Even Teal and Wigeon were clearly intimidated by its presence.
The Egret was clearly recognised as a strange and potentially dangerous interloper. Its dramatic stride and obvious height, coupled with its quickness, illustrated its potential as a hunter - obviously finding food in the grass, water and in the air. Its method in the water was to trample quite vigorously to stir up mud to release food - continuously pacing quickly forward - then backtracking.
We had a very entertaining couple of hours with this graceful adroit visitor to Campfield and have made a video of the session, as the weather and lighting conditions were good and presented a unique opportunity.
See link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=izUAGTMWCIE
Great White Egret on Saltmarsh Pool, Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve - 3rd Nov 2011
A Great White Egret has been reported here on Saltmarsh Pool, since 1st November. Today was the first opportunity we have had to view it and were fortunate, on arrival at 10.30 am, to see it immediately.
Although there were several birders in Maryland Layby, it showed no nervousness and continued to hunt both on the Saltmarsh and the Pool … very active but continually under attack from the resident Lapwings and, to some degree, the Gulls - although all kept a healthy distance away, not pressing home the attack. Two Grey Heron were present and from time to time made sudden and determined attacks but it merely moved 20 or 30 yards and proceeded to feed again.
A large group of Snipe now resident on the Pool, were very wary of it and on its approach, quickly scuttled away or occasionally went into a couple of fear flights. Even Teal and Wigeon were clearly intimidated by its presence.
The Egret was clearly recognised as a strange and potentially dangerous interloper. Its dramatic stride and obvious height, coupled with its quickness, illustrated its potential as a hunter - obviously finding food in the grass, water and in the air. Its method in the water was to trample quite vigorously to stir up mud to release food - continuously pacing quickly forward - then backtracking.
We had a very entertaining couple of hours with this graceful adroit visitor to Campfield and have made a video of the session, as the weather and lighting conditions were good and presented a unique opportunity.
See link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=izUAGTMWCIE