My first encounter with a Great White Egret dates back to 2002, when a bird was present along Dark Lane, just outside the Marbury patch. Despite that early sighting, the species had remained conspicuously absent from my patch list, with several subsequent attempts over the years ending in frustration as birds moved on before I could connect with them.
That run of near-misses finally came to an end this winter. A Great White Egret had been present on the patch for a couple of weeks, and I was fortunate to find it still in residence on my visit. On arrival, the bird was showing well from the Pods hide — a welcome return to a vantage point I realised I hadn’t visited since its construction in March 2017. The egret spent much of the time quietly preening on the far bank, allowing prolonged and unobstructed views.
