#2 Egrets





Herons and Egrets comprise several species of larger wading birds. Egrets are generally a little smaller than herons, though there are some smaller species of heron that are comparable to egrets, and there is the Great Egret which is comparable in size to the Grey Heron!

Egrets

There are three species of Egret that are regularly seen in Cyprus. The most common are the the Little Egret and the Cattle Egret, both of which are much smaller than the Great Egret. All three species have pure white plumage and all three feed on aquatic insects, frogs, snails, and small fish.

This spring we have regularly seen both Cattle Egrets and Little Egrets, as well as Grey Herons, around the Secret Valley ponds. In addition the Cattle Egrets have often been seen walking on the main road, possibly for the easily found small lizards on the warm road surface. 

At first glance the two smaller egrets are very similar in appearance, both having pure white plumage. However they are easily distinguished by the black bill and legs of the Little Egret (though the feet are a bright yellow) compared to the distinctive crocus-yellow bill and legs of the Cattle Egret. 

The male Cattle Egret is currently in full “courtship colours”, when the normally plain white appearance is decorated by a pinkish-yellow head crest and breast  feathers. The bill also becomes much redder than during the rest of the year.



Male Cattle Egrets in courtship colours
(click on photo to enlarge image)



Male Cattle Egrets


The Little Egret is also in breeding condition at the moment and the males flaunt a couple of very long trailing feathers from the nape of the head, which are rather striking. 



Male Little Egrets at Timi beach Dunes



Little Egrets at Secret Valley

The Great Egret is less frequently seen at Secret Valley but does occasionally visit. The plumage is again pure white, the neck is very long and slim, and the normal bill colour is yellow, but this becomes very dark or black in breeding birds.


Great Egret 


The photos above show the two smaller egrets in their breeding colours, photographed at Secret Valley and at Timi beach dunes. The Great Egret was photographed last year at Lady’s Mile, Limassol.


The next Tweet will feature Herons.

Note: All photographs and text by Trevor Fordham


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