Peterborough Bird Club annual report Little Egret Egretta garzetta | A | Quite rare 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Rare passage migrant. As the population of this exotic coloniser continues to increase, so do the number of records in the PBC area. The largest count was of three birds together at King’s Dyke NR on 18 July (NC). Singles were present at Eldernell on 5 Jan (RSPB, MJW), 11 Feb (RSPB) and 15 Sep (TB); two birds flew along the River Nene on 15 July (RSPB) and a single bird was present on the High Wash on 13 Aug (BHS). Two birds roosted at Eldernell Pit on 1 Sep (SE). A single bird was seen at Prior’s Fen GP on eight dates between 11 May and 2 Sep (MO) and singles were present at Ferry Meadows CP on 26 May (HB) and 9 Aug (MJW). Single birds were also recorded from Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR, Fletton BP, Hampton, Maxey GP, Stone Bridge Corner, Turves, Wansford and Deeping Lakes NR.
2002	Rare passage migrant. All records refer to single birds. One was at Farcet Fen on 1 Jan (AL); one was at Eldernell on 23 Mar (KAF, MW). An adult bird with long head plumes was present at Ferry Meadows CP on 25 May (SPD, MJW) - pictured left. One was also at Ferry Meadows CP on 15 Jul (RBr, DG, MJW). Single birds flying along Eldernell Wash on 22 Nov (JT), at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 26 Dec (RB, WB) and at Eldernell on 30 Dec (SPD) were the first winter records for the Nene Washes. Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more.
2001	Rare passage migrant. Three reports of singles on the Nene Washes could possibly involve just one bird: at March Farmers 13 May (MC, RSPB), 8–17 Jun (RSPB, MM, OM, TW) and on High Wash 7–8 Jul (RSPB). With the continual expansion of the southern England population, amazingly this is now a potential breeding species for the area.
2000	Scarce migrant. During June, three were present on the Nene Washes on 9th and 10th (joining two Spoonbills on the RSPB reserve); two remained until 11th, a single was left by 13th and there were two there again on 20th. A single at Baston Fen NR 7 May was a new record there (KKH). One was at Woodwalton Fen NNR 9–10 May (DP).
1999	Rare migrant. Single birds at Hampton Lake 6 May (NC), Nene Washes 8 May and 23 May (MC, CK et al) and Ferry Meadows CP 15 Aug (TS). This species is likely to become a regular (if not annual) visitor following the dramatic establishment of a resident population in southern Britain during the 1990s.
1998	Vagrant. Nene Washes: One was at Ring's End on 24 May, then on the reserve 28-29 May, and then back at Ring's End on 1 Jun.
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