Another heron at RSPB Ouse Fen (Earith). There were 4 or 5 flying around. This is the Great White Egret, Ardea alba. It’s about the size of a Grey Heron, but white.
Quite a rarity in the UK, until maybe about 10 years ago, but like Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, and various other herons, it’s becoming an almost everyday sight in these here parts. I’ve seen perhaps 6 or 7 on the same patch at a different reserve, where there were also dozens of Little Egret and numerous Grey Heron. The GWE is not quite as common as the Little Egret now, but was removed from the “mega” list quite some time ago. It is far more common than the Purple Heron I mentioned recently.
Great White Egret is ostensibly an African/Mediterranean bird like those others. However, the species has been extending its range into Europe and the UK in recent years. Nudged by climate change, perhaps the main driving force is the presence of lots of crayfish in lakes in northern France that have given it a food source and the potential to hop across the channel. Once here, they find the old East Anglian gravel pits that are now full of water and marked as nature reserves a perfect home from home, it seems. Fairly common on the Somerset Levels these days too.