Friday, May 26, 2017

A Cormorant Can!


At the Heron Rookery on Old Hickory Lake, you will find all sorts of species, as is evidence in my previous posts. The black Cormorant with their solid black bodies and bright colored skin can be found around the globe. Sleek black physiques, crooked bills and bright skin definitely set them apart from all of the other shore birds.


After a quick dive, the Cormorant finds a perch like this branch way up in the rookery next to their nest, to promptly dry their wings. My first encounter with Cormorants left me wondering what species they were. I Googled them and quickly got up to speed. Their trademark drying of the wings always gives them away, if not their long black bodies. I still remember the first time I saw them sunning on large rocks off the coast of Cape Cod. You can find them generally in groups.


After sifting through my archive of images, I discovered the only image of a nesting Cormorant was from my last outing. Take a look back at my last posts. Just scroll down this page and you will find the other birds nesting that day at the rookery on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville. The rookery is crazy busy right now. Notice the Great Blue Heron giving the Cormorant the stink eye. So funny. ENJOY!

6 comments :

  1. Maybe it is a fight to get the best nesting place first!!! What a great photo, Your Cormorants are like our shags, and for a whole year, we had one who regularly came to settle on a huge dead tree and spread his wings in the morning sun. I didn't have a camera back then in 2002, but he was a beauty.

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    1. I read online that they are called Cormorants or Shags. Amazing birds to be able to spread their wings and balance on a tiny branch. Have a wonderful weekend. Carol

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  2. Cormorants have invaded a heronry here too. You see them all around the Great Lakes shores.

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    1. There used to be more Egrets in this rookery but I only saw one Egret with quite a few more Cormorants. I guess they are more aggressive with these other birds. Carol

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  3. I have seen a few cormorants but they don't generally show up around here...I wish they did! I did not know they spread their wings like that...that is how vultures do.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Rose. Look for Cormorants around lakes and oceans. You should see them there. Carol

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