I photographed this adult Double-crested Cormorant at the end of March last spring as it swam by me on the Bear River. The color of its eyes was so striking.
Typically there are a few cormorants that overwinter at my local pond but this winter they have been noticeably absent. I missed them.
Spring Double-crested Cormorant on the Bear River – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While going through my photos from around this time last year I noticed that by March 15th I was seeing flights of 60 to 100 cormorants heading north over my local pond. March that year was warm and migrant birds seemed to have arrived earlier than they have this year.
But yesterday for the first time this year, I noticed that spring was in the air. The temps rose rapidly throughout the morning and we almost made it to 60 degrees. By yesterday evening the birds sounded cheerier and I felt that way myself. Spring is creeping in and I am thrilled to embrace it head on.
I have a project that is keeping me busy right now but I am hoping that by the end of this week I will have it completed so I can get back out into the field. I need that, I need a healthy dose of birds, warmer weather, and nature.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Double-crested Cormorant photos plus facts and information about this species.
I have seen two photos posted of cormorants at BRMBR recently. One source is trustworthy, the other not always. He posts old photos and when people ask if it was recent he says yes but often you can tell by the foliage it is not.
Good looking cormorant! I especially like the patterns of the water as the bird swims through.
The detail—including that acqua teal eye—is gorgeous.