The Little Egret is more delicate-looking than any other heron-like bird which occurs in Britain. It is much smaller than a Grey Heron, with snowy white plumage, a long pointed black bill and black legs with strikingly yellow feet.

Feeds by the edges of lakes, reservoirs, rivers, brackish lagoons and saltpans. Breeds in waterside trees and bushes.

Now a regular visitor to the UK, particularly the south of England, where there a number of large communal roosts. The largest concentration is at Thorney Deeps in West Sussex, where between 50-150 birds roost each day in bushes to the south of the Great Deep. Odd birds can now turn up virtually anywhere.

A widespread waterbird in southern Europe, especially in coastal areas. Colonies can be observed at Lake Manyas (Turkey), Acebuche on the Coto Donana (Spain), La Noria on the Ebro Delta (Spain) and Castro Marim (Portugal) for example.

©BirdGuides 1999