Shag

Shags breed widely around Britain on rocky coasts from Bempton Cliffs northwards and are scarce visitor from autumn to spring, mainly to coastal waters but sometimes inland. Occasionally there are minor influxes. Large parties were at Holbeach in October 1961 (30); at Covenham Reservoir in February 1976 (25) and January 1984 (24); at Donna Nook in January 1985 (20); and at Saltfleetby in March 1988 (26). This pattern of occurrence has continued with periodic and notable peaks of 149 in 1993 and 93 in 1994 (first chart, below). The total in 1993 included a record 132 flying south at Mablethorpe during a half day seawatch on 25th January. A similar seawatch at Gibraltar Point in 1994 saw 58 fly south on 17th February. Birds are mainly recorded from September-May with very few in June-August. The largest single flock was of 13 birds seen at Donna Nook on January 1st 2016. 

 

 

 

 

The average for the twenty years to 2016 has been 14.0 individuals per year but over the whole period since 1979 it was 23.3. The UK breeding population of Shag reached a high level during the late 1980s and early 1990s but then declined quite sharply and it has remained at a relatively low level since then. Thus the frequency of occurrence in Lincolnshire approximately matches the wider pattern. Birds can appear at almost any time of year (second chart, below) but are most frequent from October-March. During 1979-2016, there were no records between June 9th and July 6th. The majority are seen along the coast or in The Wash. Some penetrate the Humber and a small number are seen well inland, though not every year. Some remain for a few days or even weeks; the bird at Crowland in 2016, roosting on the water tower, was reminiscent of one at Brayford Pool, Lincoln, during March 3rd-April 17th 1994, which roosted on Lincoln cathedral.