Absolutely surreal

[John]

I had no intention of going out birding this weekend but a report early this week (and daily since) captured my curiosity. A Shag, on a canal, right in the middle of the town centre in Birmingham (almost in the shadow of the Post Office Tower). I knew exactly where this towpath was as I had walked along there many times over the years (well I did live in Birmingham for 58 years). lol

This is an extremely busy area with many people walking the towpaths to get to and from work so I couldn't imagine what on earth a Shag was doing there. Anyway my curiosity had to be satisfied.

After arriving at the junction of Cliveland Street and Lower Loveday Street I quickly got out of the car and grabbed my gear and walked to the Barker Bridge which is the bridge spanning the canal at that junction. I scanned up and down the canal but all I could see was one Black-headed Gull, a couple of Pied wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and in the distance a few Mallard sitting on the towpath (partially hidden by a small bush) and a Coot rummaging around the side of a factory wall.

I decided to walk up the towpath towards the Post Office Tower but there was nothing up that way. I re-traced my steps and went back under the Barker Bridge and carried on towards the main Newtown Road Bridge. Apart from the Mallards I, was slowly approaching, nothing new could be found.

My assumption was that if the Shag was still here it would possibly be beyond the Newtown Road area.

As I approached the Mallards they dropped into the water one at a time as I got closer to them. I wasn't taking much notice of them, other than not wanting to spook them too much by approaching them very slowly, and was scanning everywhere ahead of them. Eventually one bird was left. Again I re-iterate that I was paying these birds no attention as I walked towards them. I just happened to look down and would you believe that the lone bird left was the Shag, and I was standing no more than 5 feet from him.

The bird seemed totally unconcerned with my presence but I still stepped back quite a few paces and placed my scope on the ground. I took my camera out and took a few shots through the scope then decided to see how close I could get to the bird.

I slowly eased myself towards the bird. It kept looking straight at me, totally unconcerned with my presence and unbelievably I inched closer and closer until I could have bent down and touched it. I had no attachments on my camera and there was no need to zoom up to the bird. It was so tame that it seemed to pose for me and I have a series of 50+ amazing shots of this fabulous bird.

You don't realise how cute they are until you have one as close to you as this one was. I swear I could have bent down and stroked its head it was so tame. I was half expecting a purring sound to come out of the bird as it seemed so comfortable in my presence.

What a magical moment that was but how surreal can you get in those surroundings.

I have to ask those experts out there. Are Shags kept in captivity at all. I ask because this bird is definitely not afreaid of humans, in fact it is totally at home in their presence. I was just wondering if it was a possible escapee.

Anyway I have posted a few photos of this lovely, confiding bird. The first one gives you an indication of the surroundings this bird is in.

[John]

A few more photos of this bird.

[Tinkerbell]

Thanks for the text and photos John - what a lovely experience to read about, and the pics are beautiful. It certainly looks like quite a character.

[nightshade]

excellent pics, isnt it a good feeling when it all comes together like this
happy christmas

[Fourwings]

Wow - fantastic images John & what an opportunity, as you say chances like this don't come along very often.

A good start to the festive period - Merry Christmas

[John]

I don't know what happened to the original post but there were 5 photos added to that. Anyway here are those 5 missing photos. The first one will show you the area the bird is in. The back drop is the Birmingham Post Office Tower.

[Tragus]

Hi John
To answer your question re: whether or not the bird could be tame. I would doubt it, but you never know.
Could I ask whether the bird was moving about or just sitting? Did it react as you got closer? How long has it been seen in the area, as you said earlier you had heard about this bird.
It could be that it had just bathed and was drying out when you came across it or it could be that it is exhausted, I say this as some of your photos show a damp looking bird!!
Is there any chance you would be passing by the area again?
If so, how brave do you feel, would you consider trying to catch it and examine its legs, wings etc for damage or fishing line.
Normally a wild bird would NOT be content with you getting so close, so It makes me (As a wildlife rehabber) question what could be wrong with it, rather than could it be tame! If you do catch it easily, then it may need attention and I would advise you to contact the RSPCA or me.
I will pm you with my telephone number in case!!


That aside, the shots are brilliant, they are quite an amazing bird and can consume a fair amount of fish!!
Thanks for sharing your moment with us
Tragus

[nightshade]

Looking again(great pics)the bird looks fluffy not sleek and oiled and tragus says it looks damp this would cause a problem in a fishing bird

[John]

Hi Tragus

There is no chance that i will be passing that way again unless the bird is there still after January 1st as I live about 30 miles away from it.

The bird hadn't come straight out of the water otherwise I would have noticed it as I was walking towards it. I could see nothing wrong with the bird. It watched me continually whilst I was with it and looked very alert (as you can see by the photos). It did stay in one place (which was amongst the Mallards until I came too close to them).

I have enough photos of all parts of the bird (including the legs) and there doesn't seem to be any injuries (plus there is no fishing line attached at all). Don't forget I got as close as 6 inches from the bird and couldn't see anything wrong with it (other than it showed no fear).

If it had been injured in any way it would have still showed fear one way or another. Even if it was injured enough so it couldn't move you would have noticed a difference in body language

The bird has been there for possibly more than a week now and enough people have reported it that if there was anything bodily wrong with the bird it would have been noticed.

I honestly think that this bird is perfectly ok health wise. It just seems over friendly, hence my thoughts that it is possibly an escapee.

[allerleirauh]

hello John,
are you sure it is a shag ?
For me it looks different , also it looks juvenile for me on the pics...What makes me wonder is the white throat and the brown feathers, the shags i know have NO white at all . Can it be annother cormorant species.?

Gitta

[allerleirauh]

and the pics are beautiful.
It is really amazing that you could come so close and as it is seen now for such a long time and seems to be healthy, i also think, it was in captivity before .. or at least raised by human.

[John]

Originally Posted by allerleirauh

hello John,
are you sure it is a shag ?
For me it looks different , also it looks juvenile for me on the pics...What makes me wonder is the white throat and the brown feathers, the shags i know have NO white at all . Can it be annother cormorant species.?

Gitta

Hi gitta

It certainly is a shag, posibly 1st winter. It has typical markings of a juv Shag. Not only that the size was that much smaller also, the beak is the wrong shape and if you notice it has a relatively flat head (Cormorant's Crown would be more rounded).

John

[allerleirauh]

hmm..o.k.. John, thank you

Gitta

[Tragus]

Hi again John
It was nice chatting to you, and I am totally reassured that YOU would know a sick bird when you see one.
I hope that it stays around a while longer and if I get time I may even try and get a snap of it too
Tragus

[John]

Originally Posted by Tragus

Hi again John
It was nice chatting to you, and I am totally reassured that YOU would know a sick bird when you see one.
I hope that it stays around a while longer and if I get time I may even try and get a snap of it too
Tragus

Hi Jo

Yes it was good chatting to you. I saw your answer to the Red Kite photo and it saddened me to learn of that birds demise.

On a lighter note take a look at this link. http://www.birdguides.com/birdnews/p...s.asp?t=308048

The first 4 photos of the Shag are mine but the next two show the bird flapping its wings and also walking.

[crisscross]

And to think I have gone 400-500 miles to Scotland to see them instead of heading into the middle of Brum all these years; I may still stick to Scotland tho

Chris

For Gitta am posting a couple of Scottish ones, nowhere near this quality, but posture looks good and so does light throat colour

[allerleirauh]

Thank you Chris :-),
and the pics you have in the Gallery are really beautiful!
I saw my first and only free living Shags in Iceland. We have here mostly Kormorans.
Are Kormorans and Grey Herons also open for hunt in Uk ?
DO the commercial fishers also have problems with them?

Gitta

[Mollie]

I think I may be able to explain why he was so tame.

It's not unusual for sea birds to be blown off course and end up inland this time of year. Many sea birds have absolutely no fear of humans (I guess they have no need to). I remember once having a Little Auk which would quite happily sit on my lap and be stroked.

Your shag is probably feeling pretty lost and confused and ideally should be picked up and rehabiltated to a more suitable environment. After all if he's sitting still for you, he'll be doing the same for the local yobs who think it's fun to throw things at and torture animals!

[Jamesselby5]

I have just been on your album. What wonderful photographs.
What equipment do you use?