Double-crested Cormorant

A double-crested Cormorant sitting on a favorite log at Crystal Spring Rhododendron Garden this past Nov 5. Still a bird I find most fascinating as, in my mind, I can picture them living out their lives in prehistoric times.

None-the-less, they are doing quite well in this time period as Cornell's All About Birds states; "The Double-crested Cormorant is the most numerous and widespread North American cormorant. It's also the only one that occurs in large numbers inland as well as on the coast. Growing in numbers throughout its range, this cormorant is increasingly being blamed for declines in sport fisheries and for devastating fish farms."

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorants were plentiful in Boston Harbor while I was there a couple of Saturdays ago. I saw these trying to dry out on the pier at Spectacle Island as I was leaving for the mainland on the ferry.

Double-crested Cormorant

I made the statement a couple of months ago that Double-crested Cormorants were one of my favorite birds. That might have been a little strong. There are a lot of birds to choose favorites from. Even so, the Double-crested has some very interesting features, especially if you can get in close.
I was feeling better yesterday, so I bundled up and headed out to a Wintler Park on the Vancouver, WA side of the Columbia River. I had never been there before, but I had heard that Barrow's Goldeneyes had been seen there the day before. Since I have never seen a Barrow's, I thought I'd give it a try. I was successful on this bird chase and was able to get some reasonable pictures. I also saw a Common Loon, Western Grebe, Horned Grebe and loads of Lesser and Greater Scaups in various rafts on the river.
But as great as all that was, I have spent a lot of time chasing birds lately and while I have had some success, most of the pictures I get are of birds off in the distance. I like to get in close to the birds, so I decided that before the day was over, I'd make a trip over to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Birding for water fowl there can sometimes be like shooting fish in a barrel, especially if visitors are feeding the ducks, but you can't beat how close you can get.
The duck population was pretty good when I got there and they were being fed. But the bird that caught my eye again were the Double-crested Cormorants. I saw one on a log protruding out into the pond in the same place I had seen my first last Spring as you can see in the top image.
The second one I saw was diving just off shore a little further up the trail. I played cat and mouse with it similar to the Eared Grebe I saw last week at Fernhill Wetlands. I got several photos of it with the best one seen above.

Double-crested Cormorant

Another image from my Bayocean Spit trip back in Sept. Double-crested Cormorants are one of my favorite birds. There is something about their head, feet and wing and back feathers that give it a prehistoric look.

Double-crested Cormorant

This Double-crested Cormorant was flushed from the grassy edge of Fernhill lake as I approached its interior corner. It startled me a bit, but I am getting used to that and was able to gather my wits and get a few shots of it as it skimmed the water as it took flight. There were several Double-crested Cormorants at Fernhill on Sunday.

Double-crested Cormorant

This bird was amazing looking. It truly appears to be a descendant of the dinosaurs. I have several pictures of it sitting out on that log. This was shot through an opening in some leaves. It was the best angle to get its dinosaur like head and the wonderful plumage on its back and wings. The leaves are probably too out of of focus, but I do think it adds an interesting element to the photo.