Dear Editor,

This week we have noticed uncommon visitors to Ross. To our surprise there were three Great White Egrets amongst three more common Little Egrets, all gathering on the river bank across from Ross Rowing Club.

These beautiful white birds are easy to identify. Little Egrets being half the size of the familiar Grey Heron. They have black legs, a black bill and, when you can see them, yellow feet. These little birds are now becoming fairly common in the UK.

The Great White Egret is much rarer here; the RSPB website suggests there may be as few as 35 birds in the whole country. They are the same size as the Grey Heron, but of slighter build and a much more elegant appearance. Their upper legs are pale yellow, whilst their lower legs and feet are black. The bill is yellow, except during the approaching breeding season when it becomes black.

We continued our walk, glimpsing the blue flash of a Kingfisher on Rudhall Brook.

We would be interested to know how many others have spotted these, or other, exceptional wildlife sightings in our area.

Steve and Janet Wilkins

Ross-on-Wye

A spokesperson for the RSPB confirmed that three of the birds in this picture are Little Egrets and three are the more unusual Great White Egrets. He said: “GW Egrets are still quite a rare bird but are expanding north and west in the UK.”