Strange bird

I have put this in water gardening as the bird was by the water in local park. I couldn't get close enough for mobile phone photo. It was very like aheron in the way it sat and walked, slow moving, head forward, very upright, but it was smaller and all white. It had a beak like a heron too, the beak looked black or very dark . Legs were long like a wader, and also black. I've looked all through my bird book and can't find anything- any ideas?

 

You've probably already thought of this, but it wasn't an avocet was it Liz? That's got a black head as well as black beak and legs..

I can't think of any wading birds that are in Britain that are all white. Sure others can though!

 

couldn't be an egret, could it? :confused:

 

Yes! It could. I've just googled storks and herons, and it's a Little Egret:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/l/littleegret/index.asp
I just found it and was going to post what it was, and there's your message! I've never seen one before, in fact I've hardly heard of an egret.There isn't a single picture in my bird book [AA book of british birds].It was there again today when I walked the dogs.

 

I've seen a hillside in Herts covered with an incredibly large flock of them, some years back - and thought they might fit the bill, so to speak!!

 

Nice to know Little Egrets are spreading.They have nested in Sedgemoor and a few other selected sites. Some older bird books hardly mention them as they are a recent coloniser. Although their legs are black their feet are bright yellow. There are about 20 in this area long with 2 spoonbills. These and Great White Egrets are visiting the UK more frequently.

 

Can't wait to see them up here!! Chance'd be a fine thing! Although we do have loads of bean geese here! :D

 

Egrets like herons have their DARK side ... they love frogs and so do I (not to eat!).Egrets are such beautiful birds I can't really hold it against them.

 

Now that we've solved Liz's bird problem, maybe somebody can solve mine??
On Sunday, I saw 2 little birds, side by side on the telegraph wires, and only 4 poles on, on that bit of telegraph wire, there was a small bird of prey!! They can't have noticed each other! The only ones I could think of are the usual kestrel, or maybe a sparrow hawk - any suggestions? I didn't get impression of colours, but I've seen a lot of kestrels, so I rather think it wasn't that.

 

The only other small bird of prey is the Merlin , uncommon to say the least but a possibility. Small birds are their food source so one of those two may not be around now.

 

I just wish I'd had my camera!! I'm sure I could have come up with a caption for it! Don't think it was a merlin - didn't get impression of those colours, more of brown/yellow/white, so more likely sparrow-hawk?

 

I know its noy unusual, but this blighter has evaded me taking a pic of it since the winter started, does anyone know anything about robins, we had 3 at our bird table yesterday, is this usual and do they stay all year??????

 

Nice One.....Fabulous pic. well worth the wait.
Robins are territorial,so are proberbly nesting in the area and should be around all year.......Try this web page for more info...


web page

 

Lovely pic HH..I have a little chap who sits very close as I garden and I often grub him out a worm or two. He hasn't tempted a female to use the box I provided yet though.

 

Thanks for the link Rodders, if they are territorial how come i had 3, i read to my little boy that you can train them if you sit in the same spot every day, tempting it with mealworms, bless him he was sat by the bird table at 7am for 3 days till it rained but no sign of the dratted robin, oh well maybein the summer, but yes Paladin, all the time we were digging he was around ready to nick the worms.