The sun was just climbing above the Downs overlooking Falmer Pondthis morning when a cormorant flew in overhead. I say 'a cormorant' but I have a strong sense that this is the same bird that has featured in many recent posts. It likes the pond and visits often.
It circled overhead several times, flying through the shafts of early morning sun. 
The local corvids unfortunately took offence at the surveillance tactic and it wasn't long before a repeated mobbing commenced.
The crows had a go…
So did the rooks…
Even an attempt to land in a tree was aborted.
It's encounters like these that make it worth the early start.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
25 Comments
great zoom! here is a pic of the one here by the Great Lakes, shows a double headed one. not so much different.
http://www.iisgcp.org/exoticsp/cormorant.html
then this one from lake ontario, still close by. I'm by Lake Huron.
http://greatlakesecho.org/2010/07/15/cormorants-gobble-round-gobies-fewer-sport-fish-study-says/
Something I noticed about the cormorant "colonies" in Florida was their habit of sitting in groups on rocks or pilings or whatever … all would be facing in the same direction (into the wind, usually) … but one would be facing in the opposite direction. I saw it so often that I became convinced that it was some sort of "rule", probably a survival tactic.
You certainly got some unusual shots there. A very interesting post.
Kathy, they are wonderful fishers, and for that reason our local anglers have a big dislike of them. You must have some pretty wild country near you!
ps: I think you meant 'double crested'… but I hit your link to make sure!
Lois, thanks. The mobbing was a nice bit of variety, though I was happy enough just watching the cormorant circle around.
dW, now that you mention it I'm sure I've seen something similar. I must watch out for it, but it makes some sort of sense for them to do that.
Erwin, thanks!
Somehow I think a cormorant would the better of any corvid short of a raven :right:
Not in gangs, Adele.
Adele, you would think so, but dW may have a point. The corvids were working in attack waves!
they are the coolest looking birds, very unique. I live right by Lake Huron where it spills into the St Clair River at Port Huron Michigan where the Blue Water Bridges cross over the river to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. We see cormorants, lots of gulls and Canadian geese, and little kingfishers on occasion. I love birds, though really don't know a lot about those in the wild. mostly about my parrots.
Kathy, I really enjoy watching cormorants. It sounds like you are in a wonderful location!
It is, Words … I used to live a few miles down the St. Clair on an island in the delta of the river as it empties into Lake St. Clair, the smallest of the Great Lakes. Mostly gulls, of course, and lots of ducks in spring and fall … it's in the Mississippi Flyway, and the island threatens to sink with all the hunters. Across the river is a Canadian Indian Reservation, and those chaps can hunt year around. Almost all mallards, I think … I can't recall ever seeing any other species. No geese … they're there, all right, but the local lads don't seem to know how to bring them down … they fly higher than the ducks, and a duck load simply hasn't got enough to penetrate the feathers, even up close.
Lots of shipping, of course … it's the St. Lawrence Seaway … and the river is always lull of vessels of one kind or another. In the back cuts, away from the river, there's lots of wild critters; I've not come close to seeing them all.
Sounds fantastic! Interesting to read your comment about the geese.
which island? I can't think of the name though I know I know it. old age. I get so frustrated when I can't think. you were a neighbor. Is it the one where they have the pow wows?
Harsen's Island.
I thought of that name and Walpol Island name in the middle of the night. too sleepy then to get up and boot the lap up. course, my night ran from about 4 a.m. to 4 p.m., so prob was middle of the day. walpol is where the pow wows are. my 2 youngest went to one about 20 years ago. so you were down algonac way. my in laws live in marine city, just off shady lane off the main drag just north of MC. anyway, they go to florida in the winter. good news! hubby will be home for christmas. good things come to all who wait. cross your fingers for me. i ain't fixin to mess this up.
CYA, baby … don't forget the past.
Fixin to make a future up over here, one my grandkids can be respectful of. so many broken homes, I don't intend to be one of them. God bless you for all your help and goodness to me. you were sent for a reason. Cheers, Kat
I was in The Little Bar in Marine City when the radio announced that the Edmund Fitzgerald had gone down with all hands. A sad memory.
Gars? I don't recall where I was then – What I do recall is standing in line at the Sears Port Huron layaway in december 1980 a month before my daughter Sara was born, ready to pick up things for christmas. and an announcement was made about the death of John Lennon. The place was crowded. Utter chaos ensued. E'rbody was crying. Too many tragedies in the world. Way too many for reason.
I didn't cry over John Lennon … I wasn't overjoyed, but I didn't cry … I cried when John Denver died.
Annie's Song. beautiful. You fill up my senses. I love beautiful songs. He had such a great voice. but you see, I was 11 when the Beatles hit Ed Sullivan so natch, all the 6th graders were into them. I cried in 70 when they broke up.
ok now. who is going to make the photoshop brushes from these glorious shots? I kid. I am just cataloging all my brushes I've downloaded with the proper names so I can find them. JUST BARELY know how to use them, successfully did use one or two so far. I'm on a freaking roll.
Beautiful shots