Didn't know we had any of these...

[tupe]

When I got to the park this morning, this sight was waiting. The tree hadn't
been there, and I'd never seen a bird like this one before.

http://typelogic.com/photos/cormorant.jpg

When I moved closer, it disappeared below the bank, to the left. When it came in
sight again, another new phenomenon:

http://typelogic.com/photos/cormorant2.jpg

It swam pretty well, considering it was halfway under water.

I'm pretty sure this is a double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), maybe a juvenile?

[VegasGeorge]

Oh man, it looks like that bird is wearing swim fins!

[tupe]

Oh man, it looks like that bird is wearing swim fins!And it swims like it, too! Apparently these guys are part of the pelican family.

We're pretty far inland for birds like these. Ten years ago no one ever saw great blue herons and sea gulls here, but now they're almost common.

[RbrtPtikLeoSeny]

O_O.... that is the weirdest thing I have ever seen. A bird swimming with it'd body under the water? That's possible? Woah.... thanks for sharing!

[mgbeach]

they dive and actually swim underwater chasing fish. Pretty cool birds. They sun themselves to dry off with their wings spread wide; makes for some pretty good photo ops.

[tupe]

Thanks for the comments. they dive and actually swim underwater chasing fish. Pretty cool birds. They sun themselves to dry off with their wings spread wide; makes for some pretty good photo ops.Neat! Got any pictures? Have you seen brown cormorants like this, or are all the adults black?

I was hoping for a second chance to take some shots like you mentioned. But the park where I saw this bird is in the middle of adding a greenway, and at lunch when I went back there was heavy machinery and lots of noise and people, and of course no more cormorant.