LITTLE SHAG Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

there are four phases for the plumage of a little shag - the juvenile phase, intermediate, pied and white throated. This can cause a bit of confusion as some may think of them as different varieties. This one is getting fully into the pied stage - and close to becoming white throated. They love to catch little eels and are often seen with one which you'd laugh at how they could swallow them ( I have blipped them in this way ) - i'll tell you the date as a comment below:

Not many Christchurch blippers would have been out this mornng as winter rain set in.

rgds poo