Not a white bird but another water species that is increasing in the UK. Only last year it has been established that it bred for the first time in Britain but has been recorded regularly for the last decade with a couple of appearances in our parish. It’s a similar size to a Little Egret but totally dark in appearance although when seen in bright sunshine, this brings out the gloriously iridescent colours of purple and green of its plumage. It has a long curved bill, a bit like a Curlew.