Duck! Great Crested Cormorant
6
It was strolling down the street with a nonchalant dignity. As I paused at the “Yield” sign, it gave me a “What are you doing here” look.
Update:
I have received a proper identification. Thanks to the person responsible.
I think it was a female mallard, as mallards are the most common in these parts, but I’m not sure. I spent a while trying to identify it at this site, but, since most of the birds were pictured in the water, it didn’t help much.
January 10, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Hard to tell angle, bill and head aren’t quite right. Looks like a cormorant to me.
January 10, 2013 at 8:29 pm
You are correct, as I learned before I saw your comment. I got the email while I was at DL and updated the post using the WordPress app on my Android. How’s that for geek?
January 10, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Bravo! I had a hunch because I’ve seen a couple in Santa Barbara near the marina and at Lucky Baldwin’s Arboretum water features.
January 10, 2013 at 11:01 pm
For some fool reason, I had a notion that cormorants were more egret-like.
The bird had all the self-assurance of a tom cat. Every step said, “Nobody bothers me.”
Also, where’s the crest?
January 11, 2013 at 1:33 pm
I think cormorants get used to human presence, like ducks. But since they’re not bread or corn eaters, but fish eaters, they don’t have an inclination to look for handouts when in the presence of people like mallards and Canada geese. I’ve never seen one quite that close, though. Says in this link they don’t like walking on grass.
http://www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org/baby.html
January 11, 2013 at 3:10 pm
It’s the first one I’ve seen.
Take a look at Virginia Beach on a map and you’ll see all the inlets and reservoirs that cut through the city. There’s water almost all around us, and we frequently see ducks, geese, herons, and egrets, as well as the normal range of land birds for this area.