Squacco Heron – Elmley RSPB Reserve, Elmley, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, 12^th May 1990

On Saturday the 12th May 1990 Pete Ewer and I made our leisurely way to Sheppey, and Elmley RSPB Reserve. We were indeed taking the casual option. The bird had been there since the previous Monday; conversely, we went on the very first available weekend date.

Once there, we enjoyed(?) a two mile yomp (plus a minor diversion) to an accompaniment of Marsh Frogs, to where the bird was. This was a large fleet with fringing emergent vegetation, amidst which the bird was initially hidden. Gradually it came more and more out into view and made its way towards us.

Its feeding action was reminiscent of the Little Bittern at Oreham Common, whilst the bird was in some ways like a cross between Little Egret and Little Bittern. It had a very stocky shape – again recalling Little Bittern, although it was somewhat larger than the latter. It had orangey-buff plumage overall. There were long aigrettes on the nape which looked black and white. There was some streaking on the crown. Its legs were ‘chunky’ and yellow, and the bill was long and sharply pointed with a dark tip and yellow grey base.

15 years later, on Saturday the 21st May 2005 Stuart Green, Torcuil Grant, Richard Bramhall and I completed a very successful 24 hour bird race in Angus, amassing the highest one day list for Angus ever. Our gradual recovery the next day was interrupted by the news of a Squacco Heron at Kilconquhar Loch in Fife, which Stuart and I duly saw.

Squacco Heron, Elmley RSPB Reserve, Elmley, Kent, May 1991 (photograph credited to Peter Ewer).