Cormorants guarding the River Thames (photo: Francis Sedgemore)

Watchbirds of the River Thames, these hardcore avians certainly don’t mess about. Living as they do in one of the world’s great cities, the cormorants of East London do not mind having their photo taken, but come too close and you can almost hear them hiss “Fack off you slaaag!. My advice is to keep your distance, use a long focal length and wide lens opening, and hope for the best.