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Young Seabird's 319-Mile Journey to Hull Estate
16 Mar
Summary
- A juvenile shag traveled 319 miles from Scotland to Hull.
- The shag was fitted with a ring on the Isle of May in June 2025.
- Shags were recently moved to amber conservation status in 2024.
A juvenile shag, ringed on Scotland's Isle of May in June 2025, has undertaken an unusual journey of 319 miles (513km) south to be sighted on a housing estate in Hull. The seabird was observed in the basin of Victoria Dock, an area redeveloped after its closure in 1970.
This sighting is notable as shags were only moved from the UK's red list to amber status in 2024, reflecting concerns over dwindling populations. The British Trust for Ornithology considers sightings in residential areas "quite unusual," although not unprecedented near the Humber.
Historically, shag numbers have seen a significant decline, with a 20% drop recorded between censuses. In the 1998-2002 census, there were 32,324 shags, falling to 25,961 by the 2015-2021 census. These seabirds typically nest on coastal sites and usually remain within 200km of their breeding grounds.
