Little Egret photographed at Vazon [VAZ] on 6/3/2012 Photo: © Robert Martin (visit site)

As recently as 1988 Bisson described the species a vagrant with only five records to the 31st December of that same year. The dramatic change in the status of this species in the island has been mirrored in both Normandy and the UK. Breeding is now established on the South Coast of Britain and further colonisation is anticipated.

To indicate the rapid increase only one bird was noted in a single 10km square in the three years of counts 1981-1984 organised for the Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland compared to a count of 242 at one roost site, Thorney Deeping, in Dec 1999.

The first island record was a single bird at several inland and coastal sites from 14th to the 17th May 1977. A second bird later in the same month was followed by records in May 1979 , September 1986 to December 1987 and April 1987. Sightings became more frequent after April 1989 with sporadic records of long staying birds. Maximum numbers also started to increase eg. fourteen in 1993, twenty five in 1995 and the highest count to date fifty seven in September 1998. This last total was of birds roosting in trees behind La Hougette School.

Little Egrets can now be found year round with one or two non breeding individuals remaining into May and June. Numbers start to increase from early July with birds dispersing from their colonies in France. Since both adults and immatures move away from the breeding areas it is likely that birds arriving in Guernsey will include both age groups. These birds tend to stay for the winter dispersing around the coasts. Communal roosts at high tide have been found at Les Rouvets, Hougue Pere Quarry and Lihou. Most birds will have departed by the end of March.

Some birds do stay to breed and there is an established colony on an offshore island, where they nest in small stunted trees. Whether the species could establish a long-term breeding colony on mainland Guernsey is probably limited by the availability of suitable habitat. For nesting they tend to favour tall trees, scrub such as willow or tamarisk and occasionally reeds. There are areas which might meet the habitat requirements so the potential remains.