Shag standing on cliff edge on Inner Farne in the Farne Islands
The Farne Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Northumberland, England. There are 15 islands at high tide and 28 at low water. tide.[1] They are scattered about 1 1⁄2 to 4 3⁄4 miles (– km) from the mainland, divided into two groups, the Inner Group and the Outer Group. The main islands in the Inner Group are Inner Farne, Knoxes Reef and the East and West Wideopens (all joined together on very low tides) and (somewhat separated) the Megstone; the main islands in the Outer Group are Staple Island, the Brownsman, North and South Wamses, Big Harcar and the Longstone. The two groups are separated by Staple Sound. Shags are goose-sized dark long-necked birds similar to cormorants but smaller and generally slimmer with a characteristic steep forehead. In the breeding season adults develop a dark glossy green plumage and prominent recurved crest on the front of their head. In the UK they breed on coastal sites, mainly in the north and west, and more than half of their population is found at fewer than 10 sites, making them an Red List species. Shags usually stay within 100-200km of their breeding grounds.
Size: 3770px × 4712px
Location: Inner Farne, Farne Islands, Northumberland
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: aristotelis, bird, farne, islands, north, northumberland, phalacrocorax, sea, seabird, shag
