Shag in breeding plumage

Birds with crests always seem exotic, don’t they? As if they don’t belong. As if they should be in the Tropics somewhere.

This Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, is in dark glossy breeding plumage with a jaunty crest and beautiful yellow gape. I hope it finds a partner and an isolated cliff face to rear the next generation. Their current UK conservation status is Red.