Great white egret??

Hello Jane
Yes Great White Egrets do occasionally do occur at Whisby but not as often as Little Egrets which are there most days nowadays. I have a photo of a GWE taken at Whisby about five years ago.
Twenty odd years ago Little Egrets were scarce in this country. Now they are everywhere.
Great White Egret were a rarity until relatively recently but they are increasing in range and frequency. I don't think I have seen any in Lincolnshire this year but have seen plenty in Nottinghamshire and at Rutland Water this year. This one may be the first this year at Whisby. It is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time
I think it is only a matter of time before they are seen regularly at places like Whisby
Best wishes
Chris
By the way the photo attached is of the GWE at Whisby taken in July 2012. As far as I can recollect at present this is the only one I have seen there

I note that a great white egret was sighted at Whisby on 18th August (in visitor sightings book). So they do appear there?!

Many's the time I've convinced myself that a white polythene bag blowing about on the saltmarsh is really a snowy owl! I have to remind myself not to be deceived by my own wishful thinking.

Re little egrets, they seem to have the capacity to change size - especially when seen from afar. Posture, perspective and range all come into the equation.. I've often double-checked a large-looking little egret to make sure it's not a great white.

So definitely keep going, Jane. Perhaps your Whisby birds were/are hybrids!

Thanks Jane.

Will keep a look out for them today. Have to agree with Chris, dont give up!

Please don't be offended if someone queries a sighting. For interest yesterday a very well respected local bird watcher with sev decades worth of experience mistook a Common Gull for a Kittiwake. We all make mistakes no matter what our birding level is and there is no shame in that! Its all part of the learning curve.

Regards

Grahame

Don't call it a day Jane everybody started out as a fledging birder. I remember mistaking a paper bag as something rare at Blacktoft Sands. i was so embarrassed that my face burned for the rest of the day. Sightings are the lifeblood of our hobby

No photos: no camera. Had phone, but didn't realise it was a big deal or would have attempted to take pics.They were quite distant, and we (my husband and I) looked them up and saw the clear differences from little egrets, which as you say were in the foreground on and around islands, and I have seen them several times. Only started wondering when I went back to check the sightings board - no great white egrets! So either this is the first record at Whisby Nature Reserve this year, or I should just call it a day. #fledglingbirder