Adult Shag with its shaggy crest!
Cormorant - larger and darker than the Shag.

15th August comments: Today is the tale of our prehistoric-like birds, the Shags and Cormorants. Shag numbers on the Isle of May are nowhere near what they used to be at their peak in the mid-1980's, when 1,916 breeding pairs were recorded. In recent years their numbers have remained fairly stable at around 400-500 pairs, with 491 pairs breeding this year, just 4 down on last year.

Shags feed inshore and any stormy weather can be disastrous as the turbulent water makes it very difficult for them to feed, therefore any prolong adverse weather can cause crashes in the populations.

We are delighted to have new breeding birds taking up home at the north end of the island, Cormorants! During 2017, one pioneering pair nested, last year 4 pairs successfully bred and now we have 14 pairs. With this 250% increase, will this colony continue to grow? We hope so.