Great White Egret, Ardea alba

This species is increasing in the UK and is no longer assessed by the YNU. All nine records have occurred since 2002 and it is likely that this species will become a familiar sight in the area. The YNU no longer required a description from 2017. Since 2015 its status in the area has changed from very rare vagrant to scarce visitor and can now be found throughout the year in ever increasing occurrences.

Local status: Scarce visitor

Great Egret ©Duncan Bye
Great Egret ©Duncan Bye

Records:
2017: Wistow, 1st December. one
2017: Dunnington & North Duffield Carrs, 23rd November. one
2017: Heslington, Heslington Tillmire & North Duffield Carrs, 13th November. one
2017: Newburgh Priory Lake, 15th October to 9th December. one
2017: Skipwith Common, 1st November. three over
2017: Bolton Percy Ings, 28th October. one
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 5th and 6th October. one
2017: Low Grounds, 11th September. two
2017: Bank Island, 9th July, one
2017: Bubwith Ings, 14th June, one
2017: East Cottingwith Ings, 13th June, one
2017: Ellerton, 9th June, one over
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 25th May, one & 27th-28th May, two
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 3rd & 8th April. one
2017: North Duffield Carrs/Bubwith Ings, 30th March to 2nd April. two
2017: North Duffield Carrs, 29th March. one
2017: Bank Island, 7th January. one
2017: Wheldrake Ings, 2nd January. one
2016: Stillingfleet area, 29th October. one
2016: Melbourne/Thornton Ings, 25th October. one
2016: Yearsley, 21st October. one
2016: Newburgh Priory Lake, 16th October. one
2016: North Duffield Carrs, 30th May to 12th June. one in breeding plumage
2016: Wheldrake Ings 24th May, one
2016: Bank Island, 14th May. one
2015: Gilling Lakes, 29th November to 11th December.
2015: Milford Common, 9th October.
2015: Bank Island, 15th May.
2014: Lower Derwent Valley, 4th March to 26th March.
2013: Lower Derwent Valley and Allerthorpe GP, 15th July to 2nd October.

Great White Egret at Wheldrake Ings © Jane Chapman, August 2013
Great White Egret at Wheldrake Ings © Jane Chapman, August 2013

2013: Thorganby Ings, 20th to 21st March.
2008: Wheldrake Ings, 14th September.
2006: Storwood and Wheldrake Ings 4th May, North Duffield Carrs, 5th May.
2002: Riccall, 8th to 16th January.