Great Cormorant v Shag
One of the trickiest id challenges for me when I re-started birding was telling the difference between a Great Cormorant and a Shag. It’s obvious when you know it – especially when you’ve seen hundreds of them in different lighting and different plumages – but not when you’re starting out.
I was delighted to get this photograph of a Great Cormorant and a Shag together as I walked the coast of Papa Westray in Orkney with my friend Martin.
Now, which one is which?
More Great Cormorants
White patches Great Cormorants have a large sign, only visible in the summer, to show they are adults and ready to breed.… read more
Cloaca Birds, like most vertebrates, apart from many mammals, have a cloaca. Cloaca is Latin for sewer and is the combined… read more
Hanging out the washing I love seeing a Great Cormorant drying its wings in the sunshine. Especially when you can see the beautiful bronze… read more
A tracery of droplets A visit to Chard Reservoir is always a welcome trip. I'm here because my son and his partner are using… read more
Cormorant in Brixham Harbour The colours of Brixham boats reflected in the water of the harbour make a superb backdrop to the bird life… read more
Lyme Bay Great Cormorants We're on the water guided by Mike Langman again. It's a great opportunity to see Great Cormorants, Phalacrocorax carbo, from… read more
Cormorant sunset I've come for the day to RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth. It's grey and dull and there's little action from the… read more
The Cormorant at the Quay As I walk down to the town Quay I see a Cormorant surface with a huge fish. I start running… read more
Cormorant in breeding plumage I've never seen a Great Cormorant in breeding plumage before. When I spot one far off in the channel of… read more