At the gate

This poor, exhausted and bedraggled looking shag was standing at next door's gate this afternoon. After storms, when it's been particularly wild, they quite often end up in the gardens along here. Most of the houses don't have gates, and we've had one on the door step before now.

I think they get confused and end up in corners, as you usually have to encourage them to turn round and head back to the beach. That's what I did with this one. He went and stood on the slip, in the fine drizzle, but at least it's flat calm so he'll get some respite, until the next gale.

At least seeing this one close up I can see it is definitely a shag - usually I find it tricky to tell shags and cormorants apart, so when in doubt I tend to lump them all together as Shagorants. And while I'm in a silly mood, here's a poem for you. I thought it was one of Spike Milligan's, but apparently it's by good old Anon!

The common cormorant or shag
Lays eggs inside a paper bag.
The reason you will see, no doubt,
It is to keep the lightning out.
But what these unobservant birds
Have never noticed is that herds
Of wandering bears may come with buns
And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.
Anon