Great White Egret (Great Egret, Great White Heron) Ardea alba (Egretta alba, Casmerodius albus)
Great White Egret is a rare visitor to the UK from Europe, although records have increased in the last 15 years or so. Sightings of 2 or even 3 birds together have now been reported a few times but the amazing flock of 8 shown below was completely unprecedented in the UK.
In Europe this species was formerly known as Great White Heron, but this name should be avoided to prevent confusion with the similar all-white form of Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias occidentalis that is known by the same name where it occurs in North America.
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Great White Egret, near Porto Pollo (Corsica, France), 15th April 2008
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Great White Egrets, Liwonde National Park (Malawi), 24th-25th September 2008
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Great White Egret (front) and Intermediate Egret, Mpatsanjoka, Senga Bay (Malawi), 9th October 2008
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8 Great White Egrets, Sheringham (Norfolk, UK), 14th October 2009 - the largest flock ever recorded in the UK!
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This species has an extensive world range and in North America the form that occurs there (race garzetta) is more commonly known as Great Egret. This form is suspected as having occurred in the UK on occasion and the following photos all belong to this form.
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Great Egrets (Great White Egrets of the North American form garzetta), Ramer Lake (California, USA), 22nd April 2005. These photos were taken in an active breeding colony.
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Great Egret (Great White Egret of the North American form garzetta), South Bay, San Diego (California, USA), 20th April 2005
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