After reading reports of a Great white egret being seen at Roath Park lake last Wednesday evening, I decided a visit was in order for Thursday. Unfortunately, the Great white had flown the coop but I did manage to see Little egrets, which was almost as good.

Twenty years ago these birds were a rarity in Britain but, with the warming of our climate, the Little egret (Egretta garzetta) has been expanding its European range and was added to the British breeding list in 1996. They are still not that common in Cardiff so to see two birds together at the lake was a treat. (Apologies for the photos: the birds were a bit distant for my lens and their bright white makes them difficult to photograph in full sun.)

I wonder what their larger, much more common cousin and frequent lake visitor, the Grey heron, made of their visit.