Shag is one of the deepest divers among the cormorant family
and using depth gauges they have been shown to dive to at
least 45 metres. They are preponderantly benthic feeders,
i.e. they find their prey on the sea bottom. In UK coastal
waters dive times are typically around 20-45 seconds with a
recovery time of around 15 seconds; this is consistent with
aerobic diving, the bird depends on the oxygen in its lungs
and dissolved in the bloodstream during the dive. When they
dive they jump out of the water first to give extra impetus
to the dive. The name 'schagge' was first recorded in 1556
and is direct reference to the tuft or crest that develops
during breeding season. Some historical names for Shag
include; Tufted Skart, Scarf, Cole Goose and Colmorn.
There have been around thirty-five Shag reported in S.
Gloucestershire;
2011: (c.6)
One was noted off Severn Beach on May 22nd; A juvenile was
noted at Oldbury Power Station sat on the concrete pontoon
next to the jetty on September 8th; One was seen off Severn
Beach on September 13th with possibly the same bird present
on September 17th & 18th; Two were noted at Severn Beach on
October 10th;
Juvenile Shag at Oldbury Power Station. September 2011. Pete
Hazelwood.
Juvenile Shag at Severn Beach. September 2011. Vic Savery.
2009: (2)
One, a juvenile, was noted off Severn Beach in the afternoon
on November 23rd and was still present on November 24th.
2008: (4)
An adult was reported prior to 09:00 on the river off Severn
Beach on May 17th; One was seen off Severn Beach on August
19th; An exhausted juvenile was noted at Oldbury Power
Station on the shore near the 'jetty' in the evening on
September 3rd; One was noted at New Passage on September
8th.
Shag at Severn Beach. May 2008. John Martin.
2007: (1)
One possibly this species was noted at Oldbury Power Station
on January 20th. It was seen fishing on Lagoon I (which,
because of heavy rain was flooded). It then flew on to the
estuary giving only rear views in flight but did show what
appeared to be a thin bill. It was then seen to fly strongly
upriver at about 10:00.
2003: (1)
A
juvenile was located on August 22nd off Severn Beach.
2002: (1)
One on February 6th was noted off Severn Beach.
1998: (8)
One was found sometime in April in a garden at Downend it
was a sub-adult and was photographed sitting on a garden
wall; Five were noted on October 5th off Severn Beach flying
north; One on October 27th was seen off Severn Beach; On
October 29th one was identified as a juvenile near
Almondsbury was taken into care.
1996: (1)
On May 22nd one was found off Severn Beach.
1988: (6)
On January 5th a winter adult was seen off New Passage;
Three seen on August 20th were all off New Passage; One on
September 3rd was off New Passage; One, a juvenile on
September 24th was seen off New Passage.
1983: (1)
A
single bird was seen in flight off New Passage on October
16th.
1981: (1)
A
single bird was reported from New Passage on April 9th.
1977: (2)
One was reported from Severn Beach on July 2nd; One was seen
off Severn Beach on December 19th.
1958: (1)
On January 26th one was found on a street in Kingswood,
Bristol and was subsequently released at Clevedon by an
RSPCA official.
1951: (1)
Sometime in August near Cromhall an immature was caught and
released at the WWT at Slimbridge.