This is the first Juvenile LITTLE EGRET recorded in the Hemel area, which confirms that this is also a new individual to the area as only Adult birds have been recorded so far. It was standing in a small tree with a GREY HERON beside the canal at the Box Moor Trust's Gadespring Cress Beds at Old Fishery Lane, Chaulden / Boxmoor. It later stood on the footpath at the cress beds, before moving into the thick of the vegetation out of sight. The whole time it seemed relaxed & unperturbed by my presence, not at all wary like many of the local adult birds, even the tamer ones.
Perhaps this youngster has made its way along the canal from Tring Reservoirs to the NW, or Stockers Lake to the SE, where Little Egrets now breed.
I will post the photos shortly.
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Great record, Dan, and a really nice find. Look forward to seeing your photographs :-)
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Lucy
Thanks Lucy, was a nice surprise to see a new individual, & a juvenile locally. Will get on to posting the pics in a bit.
DeleteI also saw a juvenile flying N through Gadebridge Park this morning, but I couldn't say if it was the same bird or another - going by experience with the regular local adults, when they are around, they do seem to stick to their regular patch, flying to & from roost fairly directly. But being juvenile(s) they are more likely to wander post breeding I suppose.
Kind regards, Dan.