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Great White Egret (Ardea alba)

WWT Slimbridge. Stephen Kirk Hide.

 

A bird of wetland and marsh, the Great White Egret is one of a small group of Continental heron species that have expanded their breeding ranges northwards and joined our avifauna.

 

Formerly a very rare bird in Britain & Ireland, the Great White Egret can now be seen throughout the year, often in association with other herons, when its long, sinuous neck, long legs and large size can be fully appreciated as it hunts its aquatic food.

 

Wetland Bird Survey data show the meteoric rise in Great White Egret numbers since it began colonising in around 2010. It is also monitored by the BTO Heronries Census and BirdTrack. (BTO).

 

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Uploaded on August 1, 2025
Taken on July 27, 2025