Irish Birding Sighting Record

Website : www.irishbirding.com
Sighting URL : https://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web/Display/sighting/90166/Little_Egret.html
Sighting Ref : IB90166
Sighting Date : 21 Aug 16
Common Name : Little Egret
Scientific Name : Egretta garzetta
Location : Castleblaney
County : Armagh
Number Seen : 1
Principal Observer(s) : Lee Bantting Not Specified
Reported By : Not Specified
Comments : I've fished Lough Muckno, Castleblayney for 30 years and am well accustomed to our native heron jumping up from the shore line and giving a big squawk as I go past in my boat. Last week I saw what I thought was an albino heron fly past but never seen it that day again. I was back on the lough today and realised what it was I had seen, a Little Egret! After a bit of online research no-one seems to have reported a little egret on Lough Muckno, the closest I have found to Castleblayney is Ballybay wetlands. I saw the egret at 3 or 4 locations today and although not seen together, I suspect there might be two of them on the lough.