Wednesday 13 April 2022

Possible Great Egret

Mainly cloudy, 16°, light SW.

A couple of weeks ago we had a report from 2 people of an Egret with an orange bill out along the “Long Ditch”. Alan subsequently checked it out but it had gone.

We obviously speculated that it was either a Great Egret or a Cattle Egret as both are present in Oxfordshire. Given the location it was more likely to be a Great Egret.

Today a post was put on the Facebook page of a Great Egret near Blewbury. (The post was removed as it was not in Cholsey), however it does throw up the probability that the Cholsey bird was a Great Egret and is still in the area. So worth keeping an eye out for it in Cholsey as it would be only the 2nd record of that species in the parish.

Also, worth keeping an eye out for Cattle Egret as they bred in the county for the first-time last year and have been seen in several locations. They usually frequent areas with livestock present.

Meanwhile Alan has been out today covering the Marsh, Lollingdon, Bunk line etc.

Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Water Rail, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Stonechat (m), Little Owl, Herring Gull plus the usual.

Mammals: Brown Hare & a Stoat near Cholsey Hill.

Butterflies: Brimstone, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock.

Orange Tip  ↕ courtesy Alan

Brown Hare courtesy Alan
Stonechat courtesy Alan
Egret collage: Little (top), Cattle (left). Great (right)

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