The Cormorants of Chichester Marina

By Words | Published December 29, 2009

This is the second part of our visit to Chichester. As I hinted last night, the outstanding moments of the trip were provided by the cormorants which inhabit the marina. A number of them were sitting out on a jetty on the south side of the marina.

cormorants at Chichester Marina

And in any group, there's always one who wants to take the higher ground, to show off and generally try to steal the scene…

cormorants at Chichester Marina

cormorants at Chichester Marina

Others are more content to drift with the tide, to float serenely along the calm waters of life…

cormorants at Chichester Marina

Some choose to tell stories about the one that got away: "It was this big, I'm telling you."

cormorants at Chichester Marina

And some are foolish enough to believe the storyteller…

cormorants at Chichester Marina

And to bow their head in admiration…

cormorants at Chichester Marina

And all the while the children sit quietly, and listen…

cormorants at Chichester Marina
Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

This entry was posted in water birds and tagged , .

16 Comments

  1. Dudley December 29, 2009 at 10:12 pm #

    Some excellent shots! :yes:

  2. Flying Red Fox Blog December 30, 2009 at 8:12 am #

    Lovelly photos. 😀 They have quite a big wingspan.

  3. Words December 30, 2009 at 10:12 am #

    Mark, thanks. They certainly do have a big wing span. It was great fun watching them, though it was quite cold and breezy out there most of the time.

  4. Words December 30, 2009 at 10:12 am #

    Andy, thanks!

  5. cakkleberrylane December 30, 2009 at 3:12 pm #

    Excellent shots and an awesome story!! Enjoyed that very much!!

  6. gdare December 30, 2009 at 7:12 pm #

    The one telling fishing stories 😆

    "It`s eye was that big…" 😆

  7. SittingFox December 30, 2009 at 7:12 pm #

    Great! :yes:

    The second photo is just about perfect and funny story, too 😆

  8. Ukwildlife December 30, 2009 at 7:12 pm #

    Excellent. I rather like cormorants, even though their not the local fishermens favourite birds!

  9. Words December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Lois, thanks. I had fun taking those shots. It's not often I have such cooperative subjects.

  10. Words December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Adele, thanks. I have countless shots of that one perched alone (the second shot), doing everything from stretching to preening, and … er… relieving itself. It didn't move off that spot for over an hour.

  11. Words December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Neil, yes anglers tend not to like cormorants (I've no idea why :whistle: ) But they're great to watch, especially when you get a little mob together like that.

  12. Words December 31, 2009 at 12:12 am #

    Darko, we have an old saying here about the 'one that got away'. All fishermen tell the story, and they always spread their arms as wide as they can and say 'it really was this big'. 😀

  13. gdare December 31, 2009 at 7:12 am #

    The same here, Words 😀

  14. Words January 1, 2010 at 11:01 pm #

    Erwin, thanks! It's nice when they make it easy like that.

  15. Words January 1, 2010 at 11:01 pm #

    Darko, LOL! I get it 😀

  16. Wulpen October 19, 2012 at 8:10 pm #

    Excellent shots