Black Shag

Phalacrocorax carbo aka Common Cormorant, Maori name Kawau

This is a very unusual sight in my garden, especially as it is drying its wings. The only water around here is the stock water race, which is hardly more than a ditch. The shag was perched high in the fir tree, catching the early morning sunshine, while the lower parts of the garden were still in shade.

Quite good in large, though the hand-held point and shoot doesn't provide fine detail.

It has been a lovely day- sunny, with a moderate nor'wester, which was cool from the snow, but not cold. I finished sawing and stacking the rest of the new dry firewood. Did some yesterday too. It's good to have that job done. Now there's the six cubic metres of wet pine to contend with, but that can be done more slowly.