Once a rarity in the UK, over the past 25years Egrets have become almost common. Usually seen in wetlands and estuaries on the South Coast, although they are spreading inland and northwards. I have seen one in a stream in the middle of a housing estate in my home town of Winchester. He was only there for a day or so, and not been seen again. Whereas I suspect this little Egret
in Olhão is quite often seen waiting for the train from Faro!
I find them delightful birds, and for me at least in east Algarve the challenge is being confident you know what you are looking at – as Little Egrets mingle with Cattle Egrets. We’ve yet to spot a Great Egret though. When I took the photo below I thought I was watching a Little Egret, but afterwards realised of course it is a Cattle Egret. It’s the beak colour that gives it away – very obvious now as I look at the photograph! Not sure where he was heading for, as no cattle with ticks around this path. 
Whereas this Cattle Egret looked far more at home in a meadow to the east of Olhão, and the Little Egret below I spotted from the beautiful bridge over the river in Tavira.
The light is wonderful in the Algarve, and so quite often you get wonderful shots of the birds.
