Little Egret
The Little Egret is a species of small heron. The genus name comes from the Provençal French Aigrette (egret), a diminutive of Aigron (heron).
The adult Little Egret is 22 to 26 inches long with a 35 to 42 inches wingspan. Its plumage is normally entirely white although there are dark forms with largely bluish-grey plumage. In the breeding season, the adult has 2 long plumes on the nape that form a crest. These plumes are about 6 inches in length and are pointed and very narrow. There are similar feathers on the breast but the barbs are more widely spread. There are also several elongated scapular feathers that have long loose barbs around 8 inches long. During the winter the plumage is similar but the scapulars are shorter and more normal in appearance. The bill is long and slender and both it and the lores are black. There is an area of greenish-grey bare skin at the base of the lower mandible and around the eye which has a yellow iris. The legs are black and the feet yellow. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have greenish-black legs and duller yellow feet and may have a certain proportion of greyish or brownish feathers.
The Little Egret is mostly silent but it does make various croaking and bubbling calls at its breeding colonies and it produces a harsh alarm call when disturbed.
The breeding range of the western race of the Little Egret includes south Europe, the Middle East, much of Africa and south Asia. European populations are migratory and mostly travel to Africa although some remain in southern Europe. During the late 20th century, the range of the Little Egret expanded northwards in Europe and into the New World.
The Little Egret's habitat varies widely and includes the shores of lakes, rivers, canals, ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded land, the bird preferring open locations to dense cover. On the coast it inhabits mudflats, sandy beaches, mangrove areas, swamps and reefs.
The Little Egret is a sociable bird and can be seen in small flocks. However, individual birds do not tolerate others coming too close to their chosen feeding site although this depends on the abundance of prey.
The Little Egret uses a variety of methods to find its food. It stalks its prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet to disturb small fish, or it may stand still and wait to ambush prey. It also makes use of opportunities provided by Cormorants disturbing fish or humans attracting fish by throwing bread into water. On land, it walks or runs while chasing its prey, often feeding on creatures disturbed by grazing livestock. The diet is mainly fish but amphibians, small reptiles, mammals and birds are also eaten as well as crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders and worms.
The Little Egret nests in colonies, often with other wading birds such as Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron and Glossy Ibis. The nests are usually platforms of sticks built in trees or shrubs or in reed beds or bamboo groves. Pairs defend a small breeding territory, usually extending around 10 to 13 feet from the nest. The 3 to 5 eggs are incubated by both adults for 21 to 25 days before hatching. The young birds are covered in white down feathers are cared for by both parents and fledge after 40 to 45 days.
Globally, the Little Egret is not listed as a threatened species and has in fact expanded its range over the last few decades.[5] The IUCN states that their wide distribution and large total population means that they are a species that cause them "least concern".
Historical research has shown that the Little Egret was once present, and probably common, in the UK but became extinct there through a combination of over-hunting in the late mediaeval period and climate change at the start of the Little Ice Age. Further declines occurred throughout Europe as the plumes of the Little Egret and other egrets were in demand for decorating hats. They had been used in the plume trade since at least the 17th century but in the 19th century it became a major craze and the number of egret skins passing through dealers reached into the millions. Hunting, which reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels, stimulated the establishment of Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889. By the 1950s, the Little Egret had become restricted to south Europe and conservation laws protecting the species were introduced. This allowed the population to rebound strongly and over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding from the 1990s onward. Populations are now mostly stable or increasing in Europe.
In the UK, the Little Egret was a rare vagrant from its 16th century extinction until the late 20th century. It has, however, recently become a regular breeding species and is commonly present, often in large numbers, at favoured coastal sites. The first recent breeding record in England was on Brownsea Island in Dorset in 1996 and it bred in Wales for the first time in 2002. The population increase has been rapid subsequently with over 750 pairs breeding in nearly 70 colonies in 2008 and a post-breeding total of 4,540 birds in September 2008. Severe winter weather proves only to be a temporary setback and the Little Egret continues to expand both its numbers and range in the UK.
Date: 12th May 2015
Location: Lake Kerkini, Central Macedonia, Greece
The adult Little Egret is 22 to 26 inches long with a 35 to 42 inches wingspan. Its plumage is normally entirely white although there are dark forms with largely bluish-grey plumage. In the breeding season, the adult has 2 long plumes on the nape that form a crest. These plumes are about 6 inches in length and are pointed and very narrow. There are similar feathers on the breast but the barbs are more widely spread. There are also several elongated scapular feathers that have long loose barbs around 8 inches long. During the winter the plumage is similar but the scapulars are shorter and more normal in appearance. The bill is long and slender and both it and the lores are black. There is an area of greenish-grey bare skin at the base of the lower mandible and around the eye which has a yellow iris. The legs are black and the feet yellow. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have greenish-black legs and duller yellow feet and may have a certain proportion of greyish or brownish feathers.
The Little Egret is mostly silent but it does make various croaking and bubbling calls at its breeding colonies and it produces a harsh alarm call when disturbed.
The breeding range of the western race of the Little Egret includes south Europe, the Middle East, much of Africa and south Asia. European populations are migratory and mostly travel to Africa although some remain in southern Europe. During the late 20th century, the range of the Little Egret expanded northwards in Europe and into the New World.
The Little Egret's habitat varies widely and includes the shores of lakes, rivers, canals, ponds, lagoons, marshes and flooded land, the bird preferring open locations to dense cover. On the coast it inhabits mudflats, sandy beaches, mangrove areas, swamps and reefs.
The Little Egret is a sociable bird and can be seen in small flocks. However, individual birds do not tolerate others coming too close to their chosen feeding site although this depends on the abundance of prey.
The Little Egret uses a variety of methods to find its food. It stalks its prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet to disturb small fish, or it may stand still and wait to ambush prey. It also makes use of opportunities provided by Cormorants disturbing fish or humans attracting fish by throwing bread into water. On land, it walks or runs while chasing its prey, often feeding on creatures disturbed by grazing livestock. The diet is mainly fish but amphibians, small reptiles, mammals and birds are also eaten as well as crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders and worms.
The Little Egret nests in colonies, often with other wading birds such as Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Squacco Heron and Glossy Ibis. The nests are usually platforms of sticks built in trees or shrubs or in reed beds or bamboo groves. Pairs defend a small breeding territory, usually extending around 10 to 13 feet from the nest. The 3 to 5 eggs are incubated by both adults for 21 to 25 days before hatching. The young birds are covered in white down feathers are cared for by both parents and fledge after 40 to 45 days.
Globally, the Little Egret is not listed as a threatened species and has in fact expanded its range over the last few decades.[5] The IUCN states that their wide distribution and large total population means that they are a species that cause them "least concern".
Historical research has shown that the Little Egret was once present, and probably common, in the UK but became extinct there through a combination of over-hunting in the late mediaeval period and climate change at the start of the Little Ice Age. Further declines occurred throughout Europe as the plumes of the Little Egret and other egrets were in demand for decorating hats. They had been used in the plume trade since at least the 17th century but in the 19th century it became a major craze and the number of egret skins passing through dealers reached into the millions. Hunting, which reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels, stimulated the establishment of Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889. By the 1950s, the Little Egret had become restricted to south Europe and conservation laws protecting the species were introduced. This allowed the population to rebound strongly and over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding from the 1990s onward. Populations are now mostly stable or increasing in Europe.
In the UK, the Little Egret was a rare vagrant from its 16th century extinction until the late 20th century. It has, however, recently become a regular breeding species and is commonly present, often in large numbers, at favoured coastal sites. The first recent breeding record in England was on Brownsea Island in Dorset in 1996 and it bred in Wales for the first time in 2002. The population increase has been rapid subsequently with over 750 pairs breeding in nearly 70 colonies in 2008 and a post-breeding total of 4,540 birds in September 2008. Severe winter weather proves only to be a temporary setback and the Little Egret continues to expand both its numbers and range in the UK.
Date: 12th May 2015
Location: Lake Kerkini, Central Macedonia, Greece
|
Also in: Central Macedonia
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |