okaugust Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Greetings from the great Pac Northwet! Reports of Brandt's Cormorants, and maybe I've spied them, but none are showing the gular coloring at all, and at great distance it is hard to discern. Brandt's would be a new bird for me, so I'd like to check to confirm with others who know better. 🙂 Taken in the last 24 hours in locations as indicated. First photo is in Astoria under the Megler Bridge. I'm leaning toward Brandt's. Second is from the Hammond Marina. Pelagic? Thank you!  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 I think both are pelagic. Brandt’s have a blue or pale throat patch, while double crested have a yellow throat patch, but I may be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) Brandt's Cormorant - larger bill Pelagic Cormorant - thin, small bill Edited March 22, 2021 by Jefferson Shank 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaugust Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 Thank you! I think I can just see the light coloring on the neck of the first one, which is one reason I was leaning toward Brandt's. Much appreciated to both of you. I'm hoping for some better light in the next couple of days to get better shots and looks. Now if I could just figure out all of the gulls.....🤪 though that's going to take way more work and time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 The bills on the two species are very different: thick and a bit triangular on BRAC, thin and with top and bottom edges parallel on PECO. And, as noted, the pale gular area on the first bird rules out PECO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaugust Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 Thanks Tony! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 11 hours ago, okaugust said: Â Great photo of the white breeding feathers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaugust Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 Thank you! TBH the feathers were throwing me off a bit because I just could not find any sketches or photos of any of the cormorants with that amount of feathered finery. The sun came out this afternoon, though the wind was wicked cold, I managed to get a few more shots. They seem to be roosting the same spot. It's still a long shot even with my pretty decent camera, but I was happy to get some of the blue gular coloring too. I've gotten was here over a decade ago, before I started birding, so as typical it was a big regret to have been in such a bird rich place without actually seeing birds. LOL. I've gotten 9 life birds in 48 hours, 52 species, and my life bird count is at 499, so I'm anxious to see what bird ends up as 500! Pacific Wrens and Golden-crowned Sparrows are listed at almost every place we've been, but I've not seen or heard any. Â Â 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 All the last are Brandt’s 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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