Snowy Egret

Hi There,

I live in Hertfordshire along the Lee Valley. Today driving home I saw a very white bird with a black beak on the railing alongside a brook running next to the road. By the time I managed to pull over it was gone.

I google search lead me to a snowy egret, but it doesn't look like it is a bird one gets in the UK? Unless it is a little egret, but the beak was definately black and the neck shape looked different (unless it was just cold).