Rare birds spotted at Watermead

Rare breed birds which are usually found in the Mediterranean appear to be settling at a Leicestershire beauty spot.

A total of four Little Egrets have made Watermead Country Park their home for the past two months or so.

The birds, which are on the amber list as a rare breeding species, are not common in Leicestershire and it is thought none have ever bred in the county.

They have white plumage, black legs and bill and yellow feet and were first seen in significant numbers in the UK in the late 1980s.

However, they are usually seen in the south and east coasts – not inland.

Jenny Charles, a Ranger at Watermead, said: These birds have been seen at Watermead before, but not for any length of time. They have been here for a little while now so the hope is that they will eventually become a new breeding species for the park.”

Prof Mike Preston, Cabinet Member for Climate Action at Leicestershire County Council which runs the north section of the park where the Egrets were spotted, said: Watermead is a haven for all sorts of wildlife and we are proud of the diversity we have here.

Climate change is a possibility as to why the Little Egrets are coming here but, whatever the reason, we are privileged they have taken a liking to Watermead.”

The Little Egrets are currently at the Birstall Nature Reserve site in the park.

Watermead has a number of lakes that have been created from former quarrying activity and hosts an array of wildlife including mute swans, grass snakes and numerous species of dragonflies and damselflies, while rarer sightings include bush crickets and breeding cetti’s warblers.

For more information about Watermead Country Park visit: www.leics.gov.uk/country_parks_watermead