Black Shags

In all the time I have spent with the shags over the last few weeks, I have never seen them fly in a large flock before. We were at the Pauatahanui Inlet when in the distance a large black cloud appeared. It was moving towards us and moving fast! So fast that I almost didn't manage to get a shot of it coming in.

This image really doesn't do it justice, I didn't have time to change my lens. They dropped down close to the water as they reached us and with a splash landed in the water not far from us. They bobbed about for a short while with the sea gulls and then they were gone again. It was very strange behaviour to me, but I am sure there is a seasonal reason for it. I managed to get a few shots of them before they left.

I think the sea gull was a little confused because he left with them when they flew off. Looked a bit funny, all these large black birds, and one white gull.