Regret losing its first waterbird (5)
I believe the answer is:
egret
'waterbird' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both animals as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'regret losing its' is the wordplay.
'EGRET' is hidden in amongst the letters.
But, I'm unsure how this is indicated.
'first' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for egret that I've seen before include "Seabird" , "Greet (anag) -- wading bird" , "Lesser white heron" , "white fish eater" , "Water-bird, has plume" .)