BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Reader" data-source="post: 485032" data-attributes="member: 234">I had no intention of going out birding this weekend but a report early this week (and daily since) captured my curiosity.  A Shag, on a canal, right in the middle of the town centre in Birmingham (almost in the shadow of the Post Office Tower).  I knew exactly where this towpath was as I had walked along there many times over the years (well I did live in Birmingham for 58 years). lolThis is an extremely busy area with many people walking the towpaths to get to and from work so I couldn't imagine what on earth a Shag was doing there.  Anyway my curiosity had to be satisfied.After arriving at the junction of Cliveland Street and Lower Loveday Street I quickly got out of the car and grabbed my gear and walked to the Barker Bridge which is the bridge spanning the canal at that junction.  I scanned up and down the canal but all I could see was one Black-headed Gull, a couple of Pied wagtails, a Grey Wagtail and in the distance a few Mallard sitting on the towpath (partially hidden by a small bush) and a Coot rummaging around the side of a factory wall.I decided to walk up the towpath towards the Post Office Tower but there was nothing up that way.  I re-traced my steps and went back under the Barker Bridge and carried on towards the main Newtown Road Bridge.  Apart from the Mallards I, was slowly approaching, nothing new could be found.My assumption was that if the Shag was still here it would possibly be beyond the Newtown Road area.As I approached the Mallards they dropped into the water one at a time as I got closer to them.  I wasn't taking much notice of them, other than not wanting to spook them too much by approaching them very slowly, and was scanning everywhere ahead of them.  Eventually one bird was left.  Again I re-iterate that I was paying these birds no attention as I walked towards them.  I just happened to look down and would you believe that the lone bird left was the Shag, and I was standing no more than 5 feet from him.  The bird seemed totally unconcerned with my presence but I still stepped back quite a few paces and placed my scope on the ground.  I took my camera out and took a few shots through the scope then decided to see how close I could get to the bird.I slowly eased myself towards the bird.  It kept looking straight at me, totally unconcerned with my presence and unbelievably I inched closer and closer until I could have bent down and touched it.  I had no attachments on my camera and there was no need to zoom up to the bird.  It was so tame that it seemed to pose for me and I have a series of 50+ amazing shots of this fabulous bird.You don't realise how cute they are until you have one as close to you as this one was.  I swear I could have bent down and stroked its head it was so tame.  I was half expecting a purring sound to come out of the bird as it seemed so comfortable in my presence.What a magical moment that was but how surreal can you get in those surroundings.I have to ask those experts out there.  Are Shags kept in captivity at all.  I ask because this bird is definitely not afreaid of humans, in fact it is totally at home in their presence.  I was just wondering if it was a possible escapee.Anyway I have posted a few photos of this lovely, confiding bird.  The first one gives you an indication of the surroundings this bird is in.</blockquote>

Verification