Fun in the Sun!
With the sun a blazin', I've been enjoying some summertime feelings in San Diego. What a gorgeous place to be this time of year, but of course I think the weather never really changes here. It's always just.....nice! Being the weatherperson in this town has to be a cinch! My Nikon travels have taken me hear for the San Diego Birding Festival which as been a blast up to this point. Great birds and great people are all it takes to make a show work. I have been blessed to see some major industry leaders here whom of which I call friends. The likes of Bill Thompson III, Steve Howell, Jeff Bouton, Lisa White, Marci Fuller, and Chip Clouse just to name a few.
Of course, I have gotten out to do some birding! Chip Clouse (American Birding Association) and I had ventured out yesterday to get some California Gnatcatchers, California Thrashers, and Wrentits at Border Field State Park while looking into the outskirts of Tijuana. Great birds for sure!
Nevertheless, I am a guy who has been landlocked most of his life so I try to focus on waterbirds while I am here and have the opportunity. And there is one bird I want to discuss quickly that received my undivided attention.
Brandt's Cormorant! Yeah, I know..I know. You are probably asking why I pick a Cormorant to talk about? Well, this one is a beauty! A close up look shows the facial colors and we sometimes forget that these birds are incredible swimmers for not having waterproof feathers (which is why you see them sitting out on a sunny day with their wings fanned trying to dry them). Wouldn't you agree that all things have their place on this Earth? I certainly think that way so even a Cormorant contributes to the circle-of-life.
Although, this wonderful species shares it's pacific home with Double-crested (DCCO) and Pelagic Cormorants the difference between the three can be readily identified. First off, Pelagic Cormorants are thinner bodied and billed then the other two. In flight you will notice white patches on the lower flanks of the Pelagic Cormorant which Brandt's and DCCO do not have. This bird seemed to be all dark throughout the entire length of the body. This leads me to believe this is an adult, because all first-year cormorants would have some degree of cream-coloration on the ventral side. Although, Pelagic is the darkest but can be eliminated by looking at the super-thin bill it carries. DCCO has the most degree of lightness when in first-year plumage. So let's assume this is an adult bird!
What other characteristics can you notice? Given what I had said about the Pelagic Cormorant's size and shape earlier; you think those fit? It seems to me that this bird is a bit bulkier in body size and bill size than we would normally see in a Pelagic, so I think we can rule out the skinny Cormorant. Plus, Pelagic Cormorants usually inhabit steep, rocky cliffs and I can tell you there was none of that occurring at the mouth of the San Diego River where this shot was taken. That leaves us down to DCCO and Brandt's.
Now let's see, we called this an adult so let's focus on those particular attributes. This is an easy one because DCCO has a huge orange gular patch (skin under throat) that can be seen from quite a distance. This bird clearly has none of that happening. What we can see here is light patches of feathers under the throat. However, Brandt's Cormorant has a blue gular patch in breeding season. Being that it is early March I think it is safe to assume that not all the birds we see here have initiated their breeding plumage just yet. But check out that raging blue eye. DCCOs have a turquoise-blue eye in breeding while the Brandt's has a ocean blue coloration. We might be a bit early for breeding, but it appears this bird is getting to that point. I was using my Nikon 10x42 EDG binoculars and I could clearly see no blue under the throat of this bird, either. The extra magnification along with the clarity certainly help me obtain that information. Given all the information we just looked over I feel confident in calling this bird a non-breeding adult Brandt's Cormorant.
Brandt's Cormorants breed all the way up the west coast into Alaska and like other cormorants, Brandt's holds it's head at a 45 degree angle upwards while swimming. This can be a tell tale feature when trying to discern if a distant bird is a Cormorant or a Loon. Loons will hold their heads more parallel with the water having to fight the weight of their massive bills (exception sometimes is Yellow-billed and Red-throated which will sometimes hold their head at angles).
So next time you are on the west coast and looking at cormorants please make sure to look at the size and shape first. That can eliminate at minimum one species if not two immediately. Always consider the season so you know if birds will be in breeding plumage or not. And lastly, if the cormorant has light coloration below you are looking at a first-year bird so take caution and use size and shape to ID.
Okay, I am off to the last day of the trade show here! Busy as always. I will be sure to post again soon and thank you for reading.
Of course, I have gotten out to do some birding! Chip Clouse (American Birding Association) and I had ventured out yesterday to get some California Gnatcatchers, California Thrashers, and Wrentits at Border Field State Park while looking into the outskirts of Tijuana. Great birds for sure!
Nevertheless, I am a guy who has been landlocked most of his life so I try to focus on waterbirds while I am here and have the opportunity. And there is one bird I want to discuss quickly that received my undivided attention.
Brandt's Cormorant! Yeah, I know..I know. You are probably asking why I pick a Cormorant to talk about? Well, this one is a beauty! A close up look shows the facial colors and we sometimes forget that these birds are incredible swimmers for not having waterproof feathers (which is why you see them sitting out on a sunny day with their wings fanned trying to dry them). Wouldn't you agree that all things have their place on this Earth? I certainly think that way so even a Cormorant contributes to the circle-of-life.
Although, this wonderful species shares it's pacific home with Double-crested (DCCO) and Pelagic Cormorants the difference between the three can be readily identified. First off, Pelagic Cormorants are thinner bodied and billed then the other two. In flight you will notice white patches on the lower flanks of the Pelagic Cormorant which Brandt's and DCCO do not have. This bird seemed to be all dark throughout the entire length of the body. This leads me to believe this is an adult, because all first-year cormorants would have some degree of cream-coloration on the ventral side. Although, Pelagic is the darkest but can be eliminated by looking at the super-thin bill it carries. DCCO has the most degree of lightness when in first-year plumage. So let's assume this is an adult bird!
What other characteristics can you notice? Given what I had said about the Pelagic Cormorant's size and shape earlier; you think those fit? It seems to me that this bird is a bit bulkier in body size and bill size than we would normally see in a Pelagic, so I think we can rule out the skinny Cormorant. Plus, Pelagic Cormorants usually inhabit steep, rocky cliffs and I can tell you there was none of that occurring at the mouth of the San Diego River where this shot was taken. That leaves us down to DCCO and Brandt's.
Now let's see, we called this an adult so let's focus on those particular attributes. This is an easy one because DCCO has a huge orange gular patch (skin under throat) that can be seen from quite a distance. This bird clearly has none of that happening. What we can see here is light patches of feathers under the throat. However, Brandt's Cormorant has a blue gular patch in breeding season. Being that it is early March I think it is safe to assume that not all the birds we see here have initiated their breeding plumage just yet. But check out that raging blue eye. DCCOs have a turquoise-blue eye in breeding while the Brandt's has a ocean blue coloration. We might be a bit early for breeding, but it appears this bird is getting to that point. I was using my Nikon 10x42 EDG binoculars and I could clearly see no blue under the throat of this bird, either. The extra magnification along with the clarity certainly help me obtain that information. Given all the information we just looked over I feel confident in calling this bird a non-breeding adult Brandt's Cormorant.
Brandt's Cormorants breed all the way up the west coast into Alaska and like other cormorants, Brandt's holds it's head at a 45 degree angle upwards while swimming. This can be a tell tale feature when trying to discern if a distant bird is a Cormorant or a Loon. Loons will hold their heads more parallel with the water having to fight the weight of their massive bills (exception sometimes is Yellow-billed and Red-throated which will sometimes hold their head at angles).
So next time you are on the west coast and looking at cormorants please make sure to look at the size and shape first. That can eliminate at minimum one species if not two immediately. Always consider the season so you know if birds will be in breeding plumage or not. And lastly, if the cormorant has light coloration below you are looking at a first-year bird so take caution and use size and shape to ID.
Okay, I am off to the last day of the trade show here! Busy as always. I will be sure to post again soon and thank you for reading.
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