Twitchers expected to flock to Anglesey for first sight of giant 'native' bird near A55
Twitchers are expected to flock to an Anglesey nature reserve after rare, heron-like birds fledged in Wales for the first time. The four Great White Egret chicks hatched in May and will stand a metre tall (3ft 3in) when fully grown.
RSPB Cymru said the quartet fledged from two different nests at Cors Ddyga, an RSPB reserve next to the A55 in the Cefni Valley. It confirms the site as the first breeding base in Wales, 13 years after the species first nested in the UK.
Traditionally distributed across tropical and warmer regions, the species has been spreading north across Europe. Initially, it benefited from legal protection: until the early 20th century their plumes were targeted for fashionable hats. Wetland restoration and the warming climate have accelerated their recovery.
As they are on the Birds of Conservation Concern Wales Amber List, RSPB Cymru expects the Great White Egrets to attract lots of attention from keen birders. The bird charity said: 'RSPB Cymru is encouraging visitors to keep a safe distance from the nesting area to avoid disturbing these rare birds as they find their feet around their new home.'
Julian Hughes, the charity's Head of Species and a Daily Post columnist, said Great White Egrets are larger cousins of the Little Egret, which has become a familiar sight in North Wales in the last two decades.
A similar size to Grey Herons, they have bright yellow bills that turn black temporarily when adults are in breeding condition. He noted: 'The (Anglesey) nests are just 4km short of being the most northerly in Britain, edged out by a site on the Dee estuary.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
Cors Ddyga is a wetland restored over the last quarter century. Site management for red-listed Bitterns has in turn created the right habitats for Great White Egret, which build tree nests in colonies close to water. They forage in shallow water for fish, frogs, mice, and small reptiles.
(Image: Ian Hawkins)
Julian said one of the Cors Ddyga mothers hatched in Somerset in April 2022. He added: 'She visited several sites in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in her first summer, then turned up at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands in July 2023, but wasn't reported again until a sharp-eyed birder at Cors Ddyga read the ABM on its red ring.'
Staff at RSPB Cors Ddyga have been monitoring the nests since the beginning of May. Site manager Ian Hawkins said they had been following their progress with 'both excitement and trepidation'.
He added: 'We are so pleased that all the work to create wetlands for Bitterns and breeding waders has also provided a place for other wildlife to move into as they adjust to our changing climate.'
(Image: Ben Andrew/rspb-images.com)
RSPB Cymru hopes Cors Ddyga's success will now 'inspire' the Welsh Government to strengthen its upcoming Environment Bill to include specific species targets.
Dr Mark Eaton, secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, which co-ordinates information across the UK, said it was exciting news. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday
He added: 'Since the the first breeding record in the UK, in Somerset in 2009, annual monitoring by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel shows that numbers have increased steadily and there are now over 100 pairs breeding in England every year, spread across six counties and utilising a network of well-managed and protected wetland sites.'
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Twitchers expected to flock to Anglesey for first sight of giant 'native' bird near A55
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Twitchers are expected to flock to an Anglesey nature reserve after rare, heron-like birds fledged in Wales for the first time. The four Great White Egret chicks hatched in May and will stand a metre tall (3ft 3in) when fully grown. RSPB Cymru said the quartet fledged from two different nests at Cors Ddyga, an RSPB reserve next to the A55 in the Cefni Valley. It confirms the site as the first breeding base in Wales, 13 years after the species first nested in the UK. Traditionally distributed across tropical and warmer regions, the species has been spreading north across Europe. Initially, it benefited from legal protection: until the early 20th century their plumes were targeted for fashionable hats. Wetland restoration and the warming climate have accelerated their recovery. As they are on the Birds of Conservation Concern Wales Amber List, RSPB Cymru expects the Great White Egrets to attract lots of attention from keen birders. The bird charity said: 'RSPB Cymru is encouraging visitors to keep a safe distance from the nesting area to avoid disturbing these rare birds as they find their feet around their new home.' Julian Hughes, the charity's Head of Species and a Daily Post columnist, said Great White Egrets are larger cousins of the Little Egret, which has become a familiar sight in North Wales in the last two decades. A similar size to Grey Herons, they have bright yellow bills that turn black temporarily when adults are in breeding condition. He noted: 'The (Anglesey) nests are just 4km short of being the most northerly in Britain, edged out by a site on the Dee estuary.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Cors Ddyga is a wetland restored over the last quarter century. Site management for red-listed Bitterns has in turn created the right habitats for Great White Egret, which build tree nests in colonies close to water. They forage in shallow water for fish, frogs, mice, and small reptiles. (Image: Ian Hawkins) Julian said one of the Cors Ddyga mothers hatched in Somerset in April 2022. He added: 'She visited several sites in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in her first summer, then turned up at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands in July 2023, but wasn't reported again until a sharp-eyed birder at Cors Ddyga read the ABM on its red ring.' Staff at RSPB Cors Ddyga have been monitoring the nests since the beginning of May. Site manager Ian Hawkins said they had been following their progress with 'both excitement and trepidation'. He added: 'We are so pleased that all the work to create wetlands for Bitterns and breeding waders has also provided a place for other wildlife to move into as they adjust to our changing climate.' (Image: Ben Andrew/ RSPB Cymru hopes Cors Ddyga's success will now 'inspire' the Welsh Government to strengthen its upcoming Environment Bill to include specific species targets. Dr Mark Eaton, secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, which co-ordinates information across the UK, said it was exciting news. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday He added: 'Since the the first breeding record in the UK, in Somerset in 2009, annual monitoring by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel shows that numbers have increased steadily and there are now over 100 pairs breeding in England every year, spread across six counties and utilising a network of well-managed and protected wetland sites.' See what's on in your area
North Wales Live
9 hours ago
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Twitchers expected to flock to Anglesey for first sight of giant 'native' bird near A55
Twitchers are expected to flock to an Anglesey nature reserve after rare, heron-like birds fledged in Wales for the first time. The four Great White Egret chicks hatched in May and will stand a metre tall (3ft 3in) when fully grown. RSPB Cymru said the quartet fledged from two different nests at Cors Ddyga, an RSPB reserve next to the A55 in the Cefni Valley. It confirms the site as the first breeding base in Wales, 13 years after the species first nested in the UK. Traditionally distributed across tropical and warmer regions, the species has been spreading north across Europe. Initially, it benefited from legal protection: until the early 20th century their plumes were targeted for fashionable hats. Wetland restoration and the warming climate have accelerated their recovery. As they are on the Birds of Conservation Concern Wales Amber List, RSPB Cymru expects the Great White Egrets to attract lots of attention from keen birders. The bird charity said: 'RSPB Cymru is encouraging visitors to keep a safe distance from the nesting area to avoid disturbing these rare birds as they find their feet around their new home.' Julian Hughes, the charity's Head of Species and a Daily Post columnist, said Great White Egrets are larger cousins of the Little Egret, which has become a familiar sight in North Wales in the last two decades. A similar size to Grey Herons, they have bright yellow bills that turn black temporarily when adults are in breeding condition. He noted: 'The (Anglesey) nests are just 4km short of being the most northerly in Britain, edged out by a site on the Dee estuary.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Cors Ddyga is a wetland restored over the last quarter century. Site management for red-listed Bitterns has in turn created the right habitats for Great White Egret, which build tree nests in colonies close to water. They forage in shallow water for fish, frogs, mice, and small reptiles. Julian said one of the Cors Ddyga mothers hatched in Somerset in April 2022. He added: 'She visited several sites in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in her first summer, then turned up at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands in July 2023, but wasn't reported again until a sharp-eyed birder at Cors Ddyga read the ABM on its red ring.' Staff at RSPB Cors Ddyga have been monitoring the nests since the beginning of May. Site manager Ian Hawkins said they had been following their progress with 'both excitement and trepidation'. He added: 'We are so pleased that all the work to create wetlands for Bitterns and breeding waders has also provided a place for other wildlife to move into as they adjust to our changing climate.' RSPB Cymru hopes Cors Ddyga's success will now 'inspire' the Welsh Government to strengthen its upcoming Environment Bill to include specific species targets. Dr Mark Eaton, secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, which co-ordinates information across the UK, said it was exciting news. Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday He added: 'Since the the first breeding record in the UK, in Somerset in 2009, annual monitoring by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel shows that numbers have increased steadily and there are now over 100 pairs breeding in England every year, spread across six counties and utilising a network of well-managed and protected wetland sites.'
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