Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
19 December 2008
21:0611256#1
The Little egret, i.e. a small white heron, is back in Dover for the winter. It's been spotted along Barton Path for a good couple of weeks now, but today was the first time I have encountered it. I haven't seen these in the Dour for a couple of years now - it's good to know the Dour is currently healthy enough to support them. There is also a Grey heron currently lurking up by Crabble Mill too at the present time.
Here's a couple of pictures from the B&Q Bridge Street stretch this afternoon. It was fun to watch as it slowly wandered around oblivious to the traffic, occasionally jabbing the water with its beak for fish. The Little egret has a conservation status of Amber and is a rare breeding bird in the UK.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
19 December 2008
21:5811257#2
How beautiful, thanks Phil.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
20 December 2008
07:5711273#3
Thanks for that Phil - it is indeed great to see it, especially as it is quite a beautiful (and rare) bird.
Roger
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
20 December 2008
16:1411286#4
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
20 December 2008
16:4511287#5
Excellent bird.How long do I cook it for and at what gas mark.?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
20 December 2008
16:4711288#6
gas mark 7, 20 minuts per pound.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
20 December 2008
16:4911291#7
Thanks Brian.It beats my usual Christmas Lunch of Turkey Feet and Chips
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
20 December 2008
16:5311295#8
you are welcome.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
20 December 2008
17:3911297#9
i saw that little creature(or one of it's mates) in pencester gardens last sunday.
wasn;t sure what it was at the time, the ducks were giving it rather old fashioned looks.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
20 December 2008
17:4011298#10
marek
turkey feet for christmas dinner?
you had it easy.
there was never more than a sparrows kneecap for the 13 of us in my house.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
20 December 2008
18:2711303#11
Wow well done again Phil. Cracking pictures of a lovely bird.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
20 December 2008
19:2211305#12
Good picture Phil,saw the Egret several times as I walk down Barton Path,
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
21 December 2008
15:3211325#13
So So Beautiful, Thanks Phil, Everyone a gem!
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
21 December 2008
16:0011333#14
Glad you liked the pictures. Here are a couple more now I've been through my file in more detail.
According to the RSPB website only an estimated 1,600 of these overwinter in the UK so it is definitely a rare sight. They were not even recorded in any numbers in the UK before 1989.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
22 December 2008
08:5911371#15
Gosh Well done there Phil. iTs a blinding set of pictures, makes this a very enjoyable thread. I dont know a huge amount about birds but I certainly enjoy them. Always sad to hear, like I did on the radio only this morning, about people destroying rare birds. The latest case on the radio was the destruction of harrier hawks. A few weeks back there was a further story about attacks on eagles. I dunno...why do they do it!
This gives us a thumbs up for the much maligned River Dour...to see wildlife of this staure on it. It cant be all bad.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
22 December 2008
10:5211376#16
Ah! Phil you're spoiling us now, must be Christmas
Fantastic, love them
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
22 December 2008
22:5711413#17
I must say they are very good my wife and myself keep going back to look at them again.
thank you.
Vic MATCHAM
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 December 2008
23:1011415#18
it would be nice if that kingfisher chap would pay a return visit.
last i saw of him(possibly her) must have been about 2 years back, perched on a branch on the bus garage side of the dour.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
22 December 2008
23:1911417#19
We do have the Kingfisher out at River seen it a few times and the Hern when I have time off work i am up and over to the river feeding the ducks Swans and they all know me they come all around me and I can feed them by hand some of them I have named. I will be over there in the morning and then over to the bay and feed the horse,s again they all know me and my dog feed them by hand and again I HAVE A NAME FOR THEM Ihave been doing this over 15years now.
I love doing it.
Vic matcham
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
22 December 2008
23:3011420#20
always great to see wild life close up.
a lady and her toddler moved next door to me last summer, and put up a bird table despite my intense dissaproval, my cat is a psychotic dwarf.
it has been great to see the assembled throng enjoying their grub.
my favourites are the wood pigeons(always in pairs) tormenting the afore mentioned feline by swinging around on my washing line.
