A juvenile spotted shag (Phalacrocorax punctatus) was seen on Campbell's beach by the concrete access ramp, standing on the edge of the beach/waterline. Curious surfers and bathers ventured close to look at this straggler and after ten minutes the shag decides to return into the sea and surf. Half an hour later it was seen being ignominiously and repeatedly dumped in the surf, eventually washing ashore about 150 meters away; seemingly healthy, sharp-eyed and warm. Close inspection by myself and a local woman identifies no structural or apparent damage, except to the webbing between the toes where there were two significant holes (which would make diving for prey less effective). We transfer the young cormorant to a safe warm spot on the edge of the sand, hopefully allowing time to rest and recover but sadly a revisit the next morning finds it didn't make it.br/br/Nature can be tough sometimes.