Forum Topic

Little Egrets at Brentford Ait

Last week, I spotted a single Little Egret poking about outside the Waterman's.Today, at low tide, four of these beautiful small white herons were busily prospecting in the low water between the houseboats, very close to the long-established heronry.  These birds may be on migration, or could be a family group from a successful nest here.Although the UK population of Little Egrets is increasing, and they now breed here regularly as well as passing through on migration, they are still an unusual and very welcome sight in the London Thames.  Do the Council's plans for tidying up the "marina" and the redevelopment of Brentford's waterfront include protection for nesting herons, cormorants and - potentially - little egrets?  Oh, and for the ever-increasing flocks of parakeets?

Judith Plant ● 3495d4 Comments

How do herons mate, given that they never seem to want to have anything to do with each other?

Susan Kelly ● 3493d

We are lucky enough to see up to four Herons sitting on the rooftops behind our house every morning about 5am who sit there for about 20 minutes or so and then off they fly and also Cranes though not as often as we once didStrangest sight in the last couple of weeks though was a male and female Mallard sitting on a chimney pot for about 3 hours

Paul Fisher ● 3493d

I saw one of these stunning birds fishing outside Watermans - well spotted Judith.  Egretta garzetta is their Latin name which is a great name.  I hope they stay around for a while - perhaps they will become permanent residents.

Matthew Taylor ● 3493d

Judith - that's really good news. Beautiful birds. I'll pop down tomorrow to see if they are still there.I've seen little egrets recently in both Bushy Park and Richmond Park (at Pen Ponds). Little egrets first bred in London in 2008 at the reservoirs in Walthamstow and in the following year they turned up at Barn Elms.

Jim Storrar ● 3495d