Each year, for six months, NZ is host to the Australian breeding Cattle Egrets. They arrive here, in small numbers, during May, and stay until around late October. We are fortunate to have a small group each year on a dairy farm on the Whangaehu Beach Road, some 20 kms south of Whanganui. As their name suggests, they are usually found among cattle, and prefer wet pastures. In NZ they are very timid and close approach for photographs is very difficult and calls for much stealth. In past years their numbers on this dairy farm have been over 30, but this year only five birds have arrived.
