Rare: A purple heron at Dungeness in Kent. It is nesting with its mate in the UK for the first timeEach year a handful of purple herons arrive to spend summer in Britain.
But this year, for the first time, the rare visitors feel enough at home to start a family here.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds yesterday revealed that a pair of purple herons is nesting in Kent - and is expecting chicks in a few weeks.
The striking waders, which normally breed in southern Europe, have round-the-clock protection at their nature reserve at Dungeness. Local police have been drafted in to help.
RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: 'Purple herons are generally declining across Europe so they are in trouble pretty much everywhere. We think that the warmer temperatures of the last few years have allowed them to spread northwards and they are now attempting to breed in Britain, which is very exciting.
'It's incredibly welcome because if purple herons need to move north, this shows they can settle in our wetlands.'
Hundreds of twitchers are expected to descend on the RSPB reserve over the next few days to catch a glimpse of the elusive, elegant birds.
However most are likely to be disappointed. Until the chicks hatch in the middle of June, the parents are expected to stay close to their nest out of sight.
If the eggs hatch successfully, the RSPB hopes to set up a viewing station so visitors can watch the new family.
source: dailymail
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