A VISITOR more common to southerly climates has been spotted in Teesdale.
A little egret has been seen along the River Tees at Gainford for the past four weeks.
Little egrets are small white herons with white plumes on their crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It comes as more of the birds are being seen across the region.
Gainford resident Dave Hyde, who has spotted the bird on numerous occasions, said: “It has been flying up and down for about a month. It is elusive and I don’t see it everyday. It is shy and taking photos of it are problematic.”
The little egret is a recent colonist in the UK, only appearing in significant numbers in 1989. They are most common along the south and east coasts of England and in Wales.
The estuaries of Devon and Cornwall, Poole Harbour and Chichester Harbour hold some of the largest concentrations.
A few sightings have been recorded at the RSPB reserve at Saltholme, near Stockton, and one was seen around Staindrop earlier in the year.
An RSPB spokesman said: “Egrets are an increasingly common sight in inland areas are gradually increasing their range northwards.”
Mr Hyde said he had seen an egret on the same stretch of river last year and with the sighting in Staindrop earlier this year little egrets could become a common sight.
