Competition winner says shag photo 'down to luck'

Chris Bale had originally been trying to capture a photo of a seal when the shag "popped up and posed"

An image of a shag taken in Guernsey has won a people's award in a wildlife competition.

The coastal bird was captured on the water at Fisherman's Quay by Chris Bale, who said his camera was "ever near" in case photo opportunities arose.

Mr Bale said he was "shocked and amazed" to win the public vote at an exhibition showcasing the top entries in the Bailiwick Wildlife Photography Competition.

"There were some awesome photos in this year's exhibition and when I saw the shortlist it was right up there with the Countryfile calendar vibe," he said.

Mr Bale said he had been trying to photograph a seal when the shag "popped up and posed".

"Anything with that reflection on the water would look good," he said.

Shags are dark, goose-sized birds with long necks, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

It said they mainly breed in coastal areas and look similar to cormorants, but smaller and with a distinctive steep forehead.

'Really inspiring'

The competition is run by Guernsey Arts with the exhibition sponsored by Mourant.

It aims to showcase the varied wildlife in the bailiwick, which also includes the Channel Islands of Alderney, Herm and Sark.

Organiser Louise le Pelley said they had been impressed with the photos submitted.

"It is always really exceptional and really inspiring to see the standard just get better and better each year," she said.

"It is really evident that we have such a strong community of local wildlife photographers."

The exhibition will travel to Sark, where it will become the first official show in the island's new art gallery.