Little Egret Fishing at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

Welcome to my wildlife photography journal! A visit to Warnham Local Nature Reserve on 2nd August 2026 gave me a great opportunity to photograph one of the reserve’s smaller but very effective hunters, a Little Egret. With its bright white plumage and distinctive fishing technique, these small herons can be fascinating to watch when they are actively hunting.

I managed to capture a short sequence as the Little Egret struck at the water, followed by the moment it flipped a small fish into position before swallowing it. The whole sequence happened incredibly quickly, but by continuing to watch after the initial strike, I was able to capture several different stages of the action.

Little Egrets can be incredibly quick when fishing, often making sudden movements as they pursue prey in the shallows. Watching this bird work was a great reminder of just how precise and effective they can be. From the initial strike through to flipping the fish into the correct position, every movement had a purpose as it prepared to swallow its catch.

For me, this is one of the enjoyable parts of photographing wildlife. It is easy to concentrate on the first moment of action, but sometimes the moments immediately afterwards can be just as interesting. By keeping the camera ready and continuing to watch, I was able to capture a sequence that tells much more of the story than a single photograph could.

Another enjoyable encounter at Warnham Local Nature Reserve, and a great example of why it pays to keep watching even after the initial action has happened.