Cormorant in Breeding Plumage

Another early morning sequence taken at Seven Sisters, just outside Eastbourne. The light was good too, the sun still low over the top of the Downs.There were numerous cormorants (and a heron) sitting at the side of the water. Geese as well, but the pick of them all was a cormorant showing off its full breeding plumage of white facial feathers and the distinctive white thigh patch. As far as I know both males and females display white feathers at this time, so it's not an indication of sex (if anyone knows otherwise, I'm happy to be corrected).

Here's a shortened sequence of its fly-by.


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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. gdare

    13 Feb 2013

    Very nice :up:

  2. derWandersmann

    13 Feb 2013

    Good ones, Words! Good light, too.

  3. ICU109

    13 Feb 2013

    is it the white that is new or rather different this season of breeding? here they are all black.

  4. Words

    13 Feb 2013

    dW, thanks! I'm told we may get some more light on Friday. You never know!

  5. Words

    13 Feb 2013

    Kathy, the white is specifically a breeding plumage. The rest of the time they are black (unless they are juveniles who are brown with a white dappled breast).

  6. Words

    13 Feb 2013

    Darko, thanks!

  7. SittingFox

    15 Feb 2013

    I guess it must be spring!

  8. Words

    17 Feb 2013

    Adele, if only, though the last couple of days have been promising.

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