Cormorant ID, California (1 Viewer)

[bobsofpa]

The below photograph was taken in the Big Sur area of California on 2 June 2007.

At the time I took this photograph I was told that it was a Pelagic Cormorant. Because of the hook in the upper bill I am not sure and think it may be a Double-crested Cormorant.

Comments??

 

[Progne Subis]

I would agree with Double-crested Cormorant Bob.

 

[Gentoo]

me too

 

[Storm-Petrel]

Yup, DCCO

 

[jcwings]

In no plumage does Pelagic Cormorant show an orange face patch. In addition, the bill would be thinner compared to Double-crested.

 

[bobsofpa]

And I hiked out 2 miles with my 500mm lens to get Double-crested cormorants!! I go to FL every year and they are all over the place. Oh well, you have to trust that people are correct when they tell you about a specific bird. I have come out with some good shots listening to people I meet on the trails.

 

[ayasuda]

Try Moss Landing when you come back, then you have a chance of spotting all three species of comorants.

 

[bobsofpa]

I did make a stop at Moss Landing on my trip west. Have no idea when I will be able to do it again.

 

[ayasuda]

If you can arrange it, late spring/ early summer is the best time to see the cormies in their breeding plumage. I highly recommend taking the Elkhorn Slough Safari Tour, if you haven't tried it yet. It's an inexpensive way to see all the sea birds and otters up close. Renting a kayak is another way to explore the slough.

 

[jcwings]

I did make a stop at Moss Landing on my trip west. Have no idea when I will be able to do it again.

Do you have other photos of rocky coastline birds from your visit to CA? Heck, maybe we can pick out a Pelagic or Brandt's Corm in another shot! They are often ALL seen together along the central CA coastline.

 

[bobsofpa]

I have Brandt's from Point Lobos State Preserve and Pelagic from Moss Landing State Beach and Pacific Grove. I also got Neotropic at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico.

I have not gotten to Moss Landing and Pacific Grove in my processing yet. I am doing the Point Lobos now. I was gone 7 weeks and took 10,000 photographs. It takes time to cull and process that much. Posting of the photographs will come later when I pick out the best of the trip for each species. I have to wait until the end because for many birds I saw them at several locations.