What The Heck Were These Birds?!

[boxtops]

Out in the garden just now, five big black birds with long wings and short bodies flew seawards - flying alongside each other in a line, not in a skein pattern. They were flying high and communicating as they flew, in what I can only describe as "croaks".

Anyone know what they might have been? The body shape looked like a shag but I've never seen them flying about in company!

[Tilly2]

Cormorants?

[boxtops]

It could well be, tilly. I know there are black shags in the harbour - we often see them sitting on posts, then diving and swimming. I think you could be right, the call was very like this.

[Chipchopper]

Yeah, My first thoughts were cormorants, they always remind me of a flying cross in flight (very symmetrical)

[Chaffinch]

Cormorants and Shags easily confused..........love both!