Surfbirds News

Following the unprecedented influx of Cattle Egrets into Britain in late 2007 and early 2008, a pair established themselves at a site in Somerset and has successfully bred for the first time, raising one young. The event is all the more remarkable as the species is still an official rarity in Britain.

Cattle Egret, Somerset, July 2007 © Jeff Hazell, from the surfbirds galleries

Their arrival into south-west England began when about 15 birds were seen in November 2007, climbing to 50 by Christmas. In January 2008 numbers had grown to about 85 in January and stayed at about 75 until May when only 55 were seen.

Breeding has long been predicted as the species is renowned for its dispersal and colonisation. Originally found in Spain and Portugal in Europe, as well as tropical Africa and Asia, it arrived in South America in 1877, breeding there in the 1930s. North America records began in 1941, with first breeding there in 1953.

Britain’s first accepted record was in 1805, in Devon, with the next not until 1917 in Norfolk. With only five more records in the next 50 years, it started to be seen with greater regularity from the late 1960s. Since 1979 records have been almost annual with at least 20 seen in 1992. By 2000 there had been just less than 100 records in Britain. Between 2002 and 2004 there were only a handful of records, with double figures in 2005 and 2006.

Brian Hill of the Somerset Ornithological Society, said: “We are pleased to report that a pair of Cattle Egrets bred at a site in the county, rearing at least one young. As far as is known, this is the first time this species has been recorded breeding in the United Kingdom and, it is hoped, the event will prove a prelude to colonisation.”