Farne Islands: Shags

A member of the cormorant family, shags breed in their hundreds around the Farne Islands and are very approachable as they sit on their untidy nests. A third of the world population nest around Britain's shores and they are seldom seen away from sight of land. Like many of the bird species on the Farne Islands they are heavily reliant on sand eels for food.

The males are starting to lose their mating crests by this time of the year.

This bird spent most of it's time robbing nesting material from it's neighbours.

Shags usually lay two eggs but it's unusual for both chicks to hatch and fledge.