After Staines Reservoir Tom walked down Staines Moor from the north entrance to the south entrance. he had planned to come today for the last week, but recent sightings of a great white egret, over the last couple of days, concreted the plan.
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| The northern entrance to the reserve- the reserve isn't massive but it isn't a small site by any means. Tom was hoping to walk down along the River Colne in an attempt to spot the egret- so he was surprised to see a rather large white dot in the distance as he approached the entrance! |
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| The great white egret spent half its time on the river fishing and other half on the floodplain, often accompanied by four little egrets. |
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| The size difference between the great white and little egrets was particularly striking! |
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| If one great white egret was enough, I was also lucky enough to see a further three (more skittish) great whites that I generally stuck together on the floodplain with the little egrets. They eventually flew west. |
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| Staines Moor looking north from the south (left) and looking south from the north (right) looking over anthills. |
Great white egrets are a scarce visitor to Surrey (although technically Staines Moor is in VC22 (Middlesex) with one being scarce but not unusual, four on the same day, however, was a real treat- they really as spectacular birds, especially when compared to little egrets.
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