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Great Cormorant


Great Cormorant
Photo Information
Copyright: David White (dkaved) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 262 W: 18 N: 417] (1968)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70S, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-09 11:17
Viewed: 565
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in much of the Old World and the Atlantic coast of North America.

The Great Cormorant is a large black bird, 77-94 cm in length with a 121-149 cm wingspan. It has a longish tail and yellow throat-patch. Adults have white thigh patches in the breeding season. In European waters it can be distinguished from the Common Shag by its larger size, heavier build, thicker bill, lack of a crest and plumage without any green tinge.

The Great Cormorant breeds mainly on coasts, nesting on cliffs or in trees (which are eventually killed by the droppings), but also increasingly inland. 3-4 eggs are laid in a nest of seaweed or twigs.

The Great Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but often feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken: cormorants are often noticed eating eels, but this may reflect the considerable time taken to subdue an eel and position it for swallowing, rather than any dominance of eels in the diet. In UK waters, dive times of 20-30 seconds are common, with a recovery time on the surface around a third of dive time.

The Great Cormorant is one of the few birds which can move its eyes, which assists in hunting.

This is part of a flock of some 9,000 individuals that visit us each winter from the Gulf.
boreocypriensis, vanderschelden, eqshannon, thor68, jaycee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Shalom David

A Marvaleus capture of Great Cormorants with excellent DOV, POV and sharpnes. TFS.

Biverakhot mikerev lev,

Bayram

Hello David,
Similar to a Christmas tree very well decorated:-; through these Great cormorants.
Good work...
TFS
Annick

Hello David,
splendid capture and unusual view of these great cormorant,
perfect focus and lovely vivid colours,
cheer,
friendly,
Pat

Ah...you vindicate and make me feel good about my bush full of sparrows..this is a bit more on the grand style of the aviary world and suits the perch well..Very sharp. I am one who likes things almost to the point of over sharp..but that is just me...Great capture.
Bob

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 999 W: 6 N: 2683] (9959)
  • [2008-02-09 15:25]

Hi David,great scoop,excellent sharpness and colours,it seem a bird's Crhitsmas tree..ehhe..thanks for share,Luciano

Hi Dave,
This is a familiar view :-D
It's very nice to see them in different poses on the tree.
I did not know you have a white-leaf eucalyptus in Israel!
TFS, Shir

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2056)
  • [2008-02-10 11:04]

Hi David,
nice group photo, great composition and deatils, beautiful blue background and light,
great work,
Dejan

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 715 W: 115 N: 1038] (4597)
  • [2008-02-15 12:01]

17 of 9000..not bad...i like the tree, it has an interesting shape, just i guess it is kind of dying from the cormorant
droppings or already dead..the lovely clear blue sky in the back is a great plus. i have been seing some cormorants flying
around here too on the rhine, but always just 1 or 2 at the time. great capture & best wishes from cologne, thor.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1785 W: 8 N: 4627] (14955)
  • [2008-03-09 11:16]

Hi David,

I love this Cormorant Tree. There are too many there to count. Wonderful to see so many views of them in all different poses. My favorite is the one at the end of the branch facing us. Amazing how sharp they all are - and wonderful colors. Very unusual picture.

Jane

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448] (23526)
  • [2008-03-10 1:36]

Hello David,
This shot could just as well have been from the Baltic coast in Sweden where the Great Cormorants are gathering 'en masse' and destroying trees and annoying the fishermen! I suppose too much of anything is not good but I like these birds, they're lovely as they stand on a rock drying their wings! This is an excellent sharp capture (I can almost smell it!) in lovely colours.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

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