 |
Peterborough
Bird Club annual report Great White Egret Egretta alba | A* | Vagrant 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| 2003 |
Vagrant. A single bird was seen at Baston & Langtoft GP on 31 Mar (WB). Accepted by BBRC. How I found the Great White! Will Bowell writes... On 31 March 2003, with nothing to do all afternoon, I decided to bike after school to my old local patch; Baston & Langtoft GP. I arrived at the most southern pit of the complex, the new workings, and worked my way up north past the Gull Pit - an area I very rarely venture to as my route usually takes me to the pits in the west.As I scanned the pit immediately north of Gull Pit, I straight away I located a massive white heron with a long yellow bill and a distinctive eye - “Great White Egret!” I exclaimed to myself. It was sat on the only island of the pit with two Cormorants sat on the posts next to it. The egret was clearly bigger than the Cormorants even though it was hunched up. With very little credit left on my phone, I quickly called Steve Dudley and my Dad, Ray. As I was on the phone to my Dad, the bird took flight and headed towards Langtoft. It circled, but to my relief, it came back down on a pit behind some trees. I had an idea where the bird would be... Despite a lengthy search of the area, the bird was seen just one more occasion, heading north-east at 18.25 (over Steve and other searching birders!), nearly two hours after I had first seen the beast. This bird keeps up the tradition as a short-stayer that the species has in the PBC area; the longest one has stayed is about four hours! |
| 2002 |
 Vagrant.One was present at Sawtry Roughs on 14 Oct (SPD et al). Although only present for less than one day, several local birdwatchers were fortunate enough to see this elegant bird. Accepted by BBRC. Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more. |
| 2001 |
No
records. |
| 2000 |
Vagrant. For the second year running, a brief-staying adult was on the Nene Washes for just three-and-a-half hours on 24 Jul (CK). |
| 1999 |
Vagrant. An exceptional record of one, for just two hours, on the Nene Washes 25 Aug (JT). The only previous record is of one shot on nearby Thorney Fen in May/June 1849, stuffed and retained at Peterborough Museum. |
| 1998 |
No
records. |
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