Little Egret

Scientific Name: Egretta garzetta
Maltese Name: Agrett Abjad
Family: Bitterns and Herons (Ardeidae)
Occurence: Common Migrant
Breeds in Malta: Yes
Breeding Frequency: Very Rare and Localized

Overview:
Little Egrets are lively and elegant white herons, always fun to watch. They have a black beak and and black legs. Their feet are distinctivley yellow and during breeding season they spread plumes of head, back and breast. Little Egrets wade in shallow water, sometimes belly-deep, often running around to stir fish around, making it easier for them to grasp with their long, sharp beaks. These birds nest in tree colonies, often with other heron species.

Status and Distribution:
A common heron. Seen mainly in Spring and Autumn. Many singles are seen in the reserves and many flocks are seen both in the reserves and from the coasts, often seen resting on small islets or large rocks. As a breeder, the Little Egret is very rare, having attampted breeding only once, in 2007 at Salina. A pair with a nest contaning 3 eggs tried to breed in June 2007 but one of the adults was shot by poachers and therefore the breeding attempt failed. In 2010 a pair bred again at Salina, this time raising successfully 4 young.

When to See:
Spring and Autumn. Some spend the summer.

Where to See:
Simar, Ghadira and Salina. May be seen flying from anywhere, especially from the coast.

Photographs:

Duelling Little Egrets, Ghadira Nature Reserve


Adult Little Egret at Ghadira Nature Reserve	Nest of Little Egret with 3 eggs, Salina, June 2007

Little Egrets resting on rocks, Comino


Little Egret feeding, Ghadira Nature Reserve	Flock of Little Egrets, Majjistral Natural Park

Little Egrets settling on rocks, Comino


Little Egrets are graceful, white birds in flight	Little Egrets often roost in trees close to the water's edge

Little Egret at Nest with chicks, 26th June 2010, Salina

Fishing Little Egret:


The Little Egret remains immobile while waiting patiently for fish to approach	It strikes into the water with its beak when it spots a fish

It then pulls the fish out of the water...	...And walks off to swallow it on land.

Watch a video of the Little Egret:

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