Egrets on the Central Coast: Elegant Hunters of the Water’s Edge

If you’ve ever wandered past a lake, lagoon or estuary on the Central Coast and spotted a tall, graceful white bird standing still in the shallows, chances are you’ve seen an egret. These beautiful, peaceful birds are common across our region and are a joy to watch as they patiently hunt for their next meal.

With their snowy white feathers and slow, careful movements, egrets are like the ballerinas of the bird world – calm, elegant, and always poised.

What is an egret?

Egrets are wading birds, closely related to herons. They have:

  • Long legs for walking through shallow water

  • S-shaped necks that coil up before they strike

  • Sharp, pointed beaks for spearing fish and insects

  • Bright white feathers, often with flowing plumes during breeding season

The most common egret seen on the Central Coast is the Eastern Great Egret – tall, graceful, and often seen alone or in pairs. We also get Intermediate Egrets, Cattle Egrets, and occasionally Little Egrets, each with slightly different sizes and features.

Where can you see them?

Egrets love shallow water – both fresh and salt – so they’re found all across the Central Coast. Good spots include:

  • Tuggerah Lake – near The Entrance and Long Jetty

  • Brisbane Water – around Woy Woy, Davistown, and Gosford waterfront

  • Wamberal and Avoca Lagoons – calm, quiet spots they love

  • Wetlands, ponds, and even roadside creeks

Look for them standing still like statues at the water’s edge, or slowly wading through the shallows looking for a bite.

What do egrets eat?

Egrets are meat eaters, and they’re skilled hunters. Their diet includes:

  • Small fish

  • Frogs

  • Insects

  • Crustaceans like yabbies or tiny crabs

They use their sharp beak to strike fast – often faster than you can blink! They’re patient hunters, often waiting perfectly still until the right moment.

Breeding and behaviour

During breeding season (usually spring and early summer), some egrets grow long, delicate feathers on their backs called "plumes". In the past, these were sadly hunted for fashion, but now egrets are protected in Australia.

They nest in colonies, often in tall trees near water, alongside other birds like cormorants, spoonbills and herons. Their nests are made from sticks and are often quite messy!

Helping protect egrets

Even though they’re doing fairly well, egrets still rely on healthy wetlands to survive. You can help by:

  • Protecting wetland and lagoon areas – these are key feeding and nesting spots

  • Keeping dogs away from the water’s edge – even just sniffing around can disturb nesting birds

  • Picking up rubbish – plastic and pollution can ruin their habitat

  • Supporting Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast who care for waterbirds and protect breeding areas

Egrets might be quiet and subtle, but they’re a big part of the peaceful charm of the Central Coast. Next time you’re out near a waterway, keep an eye out for a flash of white and a gentle step – and you might just spot one of these elegant locals doing its thing.