The various firths around Inverness are now attracting large numbers of birds as they move in, often from abroad, for the winter months. Many geese are already around and the inner mudflats of the Beauly Firth, for example, are already attracting large numbers of geese. Last week, when the mudflats were exposed at low tide, I was watching a flock of hundreds of geese just west of Bunchrew House. They could easily be watched from a car lay-bye just opposite the Nursery at Ardfern. The best time to look at such mud and sand banks is when the tide is retreating as then the ducks, geese and waders throng there as the banks are uncovered. There are rich pickings to be had below the flats with the birds very busy until the tide covers them over again. The ducks include flocks of wigeon and mallard and groups of teal and there is always the chance of more uncommon birds such as scaup and pintail. From now until the spring, when many of the birds depart for their breeding grounds, often to Iceland, the firths will be a mecca for the birds, and birdwatchers alike.
Geese, ducks, waders and gulls are the commonest birds but there are two other large birds that look almost ominous with their generally jet black plumage and they are the cormorants and shags. At this time of the year, they are not easy to tell apart especially when they are flying to and fro up and down the firths to search out feeding areas. In the breeding season the shags are relatively easy as they have prominent crests that show up clearly when they are at rest. In the winter the much smaller size of the shag and more slender neck is the clue but this is relative and not always easy to realise. Then there is the problem of the shags spreading their wings such as on the seawall at Burghead last week along the east coast from Inverness. There was a long line of the shags on the seawall. The spread of the wings, both shags and cormorants do this, is still a mystery. It could be to aid digest especially as both birds will take quite large fish. Another school of thought is that it is done purely to dry the wings. Why the latter should be the case, with a bird that spends nearly all its time in the water, seems odd. I would favour the first theory, to aid digestion.
The shag is much commoner than the cormorant and in Scotland there are around 30,000 pairs which is important as it is no less that 30% of world population. In contrast the cormorant has only 3,500 nests in Scotland. They do have two fundamental differences in habits. Whilst both birds are normally found along the coast, including some of the marine islands, the major difference in distribution is that cormorants are frequently found on inland waters including quite small ones. There are many fishermen that claim that adverse numbers of fish, especially game fish such as trout, are taken including from fish farms. Accordingly annual licences are issued to kill cormorants and so many are shot not only on lochs and fish farms but also on rivers. This includes a number of sites in the Highlands. In contrast shags are very rarely found inland away from the coast.