Shag and chicks
The European Shag, Common Shag or simply Shag is a species of cormorant. It is 27 to 31 inches in length with a 37 to 43 inches wingspan. It is mainly black in colour but with a glossy green-tinged sheen in adults. It has a longish tail and a yellow throat-patch. Adults have a small recurved crest in the breeding season. It is distinguished from the Cormorant by its smaller size, lighter build, thinner and narrower bill, and, in breeding adults, by the crest and metallic green-tinged sheen.
The Shag breeds around the rocky coasts of west and south Europe, north Africa and south west Asia, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. It nests on rocky ledges or in crevices or small caves and the nests are untidy heaps of rotting seaweed or twigs cemented together by the bird's own guano. The nesting season is long and begins in late February although some nests are not started until May or even later. The female lays 3 eggs and the chicks hatch without down and so they rely totally on their parents for warmth, often for a period of 2 months before they can fly. Fledging may occur at any time from early June to late August and exceptionally to mid-October.
In the UK, the Shag breeds at coastal sites, mainly in the north and west of the country, and more than half of the population is found at fewer than 10 sites. It can be seen during the breeding season at the large Scottish colonies on Orkney, Shetland, the Inner Hebrides and in the Firth of Forth. Elsewhere it can be seen commonly around the coasts of Wales and south west England, especially in Devon and Cornwall.
The Shag feeds in the sea and, unlike the Cormorant, it is rare inland. It is one of the deepest pursuit divers among the cormorant family and it has been shown to dive to at least 150 feet. When it dives, it jumps out of the water first to give extra impetus to the dive. The Shag forages for food on the sea bed and eats a wide range of fish although the commonest prey is the sand eel. It will travel long distances from its breeding and roosting sites in order to feed.
Date: 12th June 2014
Location: Staple Island, Farne Islands, Northumberland
The Shag breeds around the rocky coasts of west and south Europe, north Africa and south west Asia, mainly wintering in its breeding range except for the northernmost birds. It nests on rocky ledges or in crevices or small caves and the nests are untidy heaps of rotting seaweed or twigs cemented together by the bird's own guano. The nesting season is long and begins in late February although some nests are not started until May or even later. The female lays 3 eggs and the chicks hatch without down and so they rely totally on their parents for warmth, often for a period of 2 months before they can fly. Fledging may occur at any time from early June to late August and exceptionally to mid-October.
In the UK, the Shag breeds at coastal sites, mainly in the north and west of the country, and more than half of the population is found at fewer than 10 sites. It can be seen during the breeding season at the large Scottish colonies on Orkney, Shetland, the Inner Hebrides and in the Firth of Forth. Elsewhere it can be seen commonly around the coasts of Wales and south west England, especially in Devon and Cornwall.
The Shag feeds in the sea and, unlike the Cormorant, it is rare inland. It is one of the deepest pursuit divers among the cormorant family and it has been shown to dive to at least 150 feet. When it dives, it jumps out of the water first to give extra impetus to the dive. The Shag forages for food on the sea bed and eats a wide range of fish although the commonest prey is the sand eel. It will travel long distances from its breeding and roosting sites in order to feed.
Date: 12th June 2014
Location: Staple Island, Farne Islands, Northumberland
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Also in: Cormorants and Shags
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