Sunday 22 January 2012

Local birding, East Lancs: Shag, Jumbles Reservoir - 22nd Jan 2012.

News emerged mid-afternoon of a Shag at Jumbles Reservoir on the Lancs/Gtr. Manchester boundary, apparently present for several days. The county boundary effectively cuts the reservoir in two, the northern half being in Lancashire, and more importantly, within the area controlled by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The Shag seemingly shows good taste and favours the Lancashire end, at least whilst I was watching it.

This is only the second record of this species for the Blackburn with Darwen area that I am aware of, the only other previous record coming from Fishmoor Reservoir in Nov 1996.




The bird is very confiding at times, and has been showing down to a few feet.

The favoured roosting position during my visit was a small grassy ledge at the base of the rock face on the opposite side of the inflow at the northern end, all too easy to walk past unnoticed.