birds Pelagic Cormorant

Please critique. Thank you.

Congratulations on an excellent shot! Regards Carl

I see by reading your bio that you're a very serious "birder" and this photo is an excellent example of your "captures". I "pooh pawed" (find that expression in Webster's) bird photos till I tried to take some, those feathered friends don't exactly sit around posing so I've come to appreciate the excellent examples of bird imagery found here on PN, I'll add you to my list. Nice detail and colors in the Cormorant's feathers. And you and the wife are dog lovers too!

Thanks Carl and Susan. I really appreciate the comments more than the ratings. Birding is a passion and photographing them is a good excuse to get out in the boonies. Getting a good shot while they passively pose is a thrill, but catching them flying (and keeping them in focus) is what bird photography is all about. My hero is Bob Steele www.bobsteelephoto.com but on PN, I have not seen better than Jody Melanson. His shots are magnificent.

I see the difference now between this and the double-crested. These appear to be darker in color and the beak is different as well. Is the green iridescence always present as well? The photo you have here is very nice. I know how hard it is to get a dark bird exposed properly. Mine seem to be silhouettes more often than not.

The iridescence is normal on adult Pelagic and Brandt's. 1st year birds will not have it. The bill is visibly more needle-like on the Pelagic. Luckily I was in a pontoon boat and we manuvered so that the bird was not in silhouette. This is a typical pose around the slough where he was photographed. BTW there are over 350 species of birds that can be found in Elkhorn Slough, and adjacent Moss Landing. September-October are the best months. There is also a private dairy (Moon Glow Dairy) that is next to Elkhorn Slough which allows birders to trespass. They have a grove of eucalyptus that is well-known as a migrant trap and many, many vagrant birds have been seen there in Aug-Oct. There is also the Monterey Bird Festival at the end of Sep that will offer birding trips throughout this area. Highly recommended. Ususally listed on the American Bird Association website.