Exciting spot in the Meadows!

A Great White Egret...

We were amazed to see a Great White Egret on the Squelch wetland a few weeks ago!

A few decades ago, UK records of great white egret were less than annual, but increasing numbers now winter in the UK and a few pairs even nest here. Visiting birds can be found in all kinds of wetland habitats, even farmland ditches! They stand in shallow water, waiting for fish, insects and amphibians to approach, then spear them with their dagger-like bill.

How to identify:
The great white egret is almost as large as a grey heron, but with longer legs and a longer neck.
It has a large, dagger-like bill that is yellow for most of the year, but becomes mostly black in breeding birds.
The upper legs are yellowish, sometimes turning reddish in breeding birds, and the lower legs and feet are black - unlike the yellow feet of the little egret.

As our nature recovery work continues, who knows what else will chose to make its home here?

The Onny Meadows are starting to become a really important place for wildlife and we’re committed to making them more attractive for wildlife and more accessible for people who want to immerse themselves in nature.