Little Egret at the Pool River

[simon]

I saw a Little Egret at the Pool River, north of Lennard Road this afternoon. I have seen one, possibly the same one, at the Ravensbourne in Beckenham Place Park but this the first time I have seen one in Sydenham.
Little Egrets were hunted to virtual extinction in this country, for their feathers, but have moved back from the continent in increasing numbers over the last few years, attributed to climate change.
I think the one I have seen is a juvenile as it doesn’t yet have the distinctive tuft of feathers on the back of its neck yet.
Worth keeping an eye out for as it is a particularly attractive bird and has been rarely seen around here before.

[Tim Lund]

Quite possible. There's an Irish guy called Tom, who's active in Thames 21, who's often there with his binoculars. I'm fairly sure he's told me of seeing an egret - certainly a water rail, which scores brownie points with twitchers.

I also saw on on the Thames in Oxfordshire last Autumn.