It returned!
Mid afternoon, Peter called the office to tell me that the great egret had returned to the marsh and was skulking around in the reedbed. When I arrived at the reserve I met Peter on the pavement opposite the seafront. He and Brian had seen the bird drop into the reeds but had not seen it for several minutes – so we waited and it paid off.
It flew once around the front marsh and then landed in the old pine trees where the buzzards often sit. We watched the egret for well over an hour. It sat watching over the little egrets and grey herons feeding in the water below then eventually dropped down to join them. We all had amazing clear views until it took flight again and dropped into the reeds near the railway line. Hopefully the great egret will roost on the marsh tonight and still be there tomorrow.
Dedicated to Cornwall's wildlife