Great White Egret, Maine River, 20th September 2017 (all photos: Michael O'Clery).
This absurdly-lanky-yet-hypnotically-elegant heron was present at high tide along the Maine river bank just to the east of the pier at Caherfealane. At one point, harassed by a local Grey Heron it took an indecisive and leisurely flight upriver for about a kilometre before eventually circling back and landing once more in the original spot. Then the Hooded Crows started having a go, though they barely came up to its knee, and even I wouldn't fancy my chances against a swift stab from that long yellow dagger of a bill.
The seventh county record.
Great White Egret, Maine River, 20th September 2017.
Great White Egret, Maine River, 20th September 2017.
Here, with three of its smaller counterparts, Little Egrets. Next to this fella they do indeed look 'little'.
Great White Egret, Maine River, 20th September 2017.
Great White Egret, Maine River, 20th September 2017.
Numbers in Britain and Europe are on the increase and breeding has taken place annually in England since they first bred there, in Somerset in 2012. Surely we will be seeing more of this majestic bird in the Kingdom and, from the Kerry records (below) kept by Ed Carty, the pace of occurrences is quickening.
2009 (1) Ballyseedy, 30th Jan.
(1) Akearagh Lough, 1st-13th Oct.
2012 (1) Castlemaine, 21st-29th Oct.
2015 (1) Smerwick-Ventry, 31st Oct.-12th Nov., presumed same at Ventry, 14th Nov.
2016 (1) near Portmagee, 27th-30th Sept.
2017 (1) near Kenmare, 12th April.
2017 (1) Caherfealane, 20th Sept.
(with thanks to Ed Carty).
