in europe the species had historically declined in spain and portugal, but in the latter part of the 20th century it expanded back through the iberian peninsula, and then began to colonise other parts of europe; southern france in 1958, northern france in 1981 and italy in 1985. breeding in the united kingdom was recorded for the first time in 2008 only a year after an influx seen in the previous year. in 2008 cattle egrets were also reported as having moved into ireland for the first time.