Monday, 28 April 2025

Cattle Egrets at Abberton Reservoir

22nd April 2025

A lovely sunny day so time for a bimble around the reserve to see what has arrived. A walk along the Layer de la Haye causeway produced a rather tame Egyptian Goose that stood just a few yards away.


There were also about 20 Common Terns around, some having a rest on the bank.




Others making use of the railings by the sluice.




And this pair partaking in a bit of synchronised preening.


While others were fishing out over the water.








A Little Ringed Plover was also on the bank, and here assessing a potential overhead threat.




The warblers are now increasing in numbers with Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers both present at the southern end of the causeway.










And on the reserve I heard and saw my first Willow Warbler of the year. Amazing to think that about 50 years ago they were one of the commonest warblers in the south, but they have now moved north and are very common in Scotland. The bird was several bushes away and I had to find a small tunnel through the foliage as you can see by the shading on parts of the photos.








But the stars today were the Cattle Egrets which were feeding in the field at the south-east end of the Layer Breton causeway.

On my last visit on the 6th April there were no Cattle Egrets on site but now they are nesting in the heronry, but difficult to see as the nests are deep in the trees. Today there were six birds feeding in the field, but no idea how may are in the heronry. Watch this space.














Well, another great day at Abberton and also good to meet Bill who was also enjoying the egrets.












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