Cormorants

The cormorants usually perch on the rocks opposite the pier but on Sunday they were perching on the harbour posts. They are larger than the similar looking shags and can be distinguished by the patch of white at the throat. The adult has an orange spot below its eye. (Click on above picture to enlarge and see this clearly.)

I was fascinated by the recent HSBC cormorant fishing advert. This is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in rivers. Historically, cormorant fishing has taken place in Japan and China, as well as other places throughout the world.
To control the bird, the fisherman tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat (though this isn't shown in the advert!!). This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can swallow smaller fish. When a cormorant has cought a fish in its throat, the bird is brought back to the boat to spit the fish out. Although, it was once a successful fishing industry, it's mainly practiced today to impress tourists. (Information from Wikipedia)

A juvenile cormorant with white underparts.

A cormorant in typical pose with its wings outspread to dry.