ML214568371

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Seen approximately 35 miles upriver from the spillway at the dam at J. Strom Thurmond Lake where a first year Great Cormorant has been continuing since 11/15/2019 and which young bird was last reported at the J. Strom Thurmond spillway this past Saturday on 3/7 by Kathy Steele and Lois Stacey. --- On orange buoys in Georgia waters below the dam with Double-cresteds. --- This bird strikes me as a full nonbreeding adult from what I could see of it and should be a different bird than the first year J. Strom Thurmond bird. It also has a faint and small breeding bird white hip patch coming in as well (faintly seen on photo 4 and better seen on 3/10) which can be hard to see in late evening light at a distance and mostly during wing raises. However, I don't know if, and if so how quickly, first winter Great Cormorants can change to winter nonbreeding adults between January 18th and March 9th, but I am very curious. Would dearly love to know if the J. Strom Thurmond spillway young bird is still there this week and if it retains its first winter plumage (white belly and brown neck, etc.)?!! --- Two Great Cormorants on the Savannah River this month would be pretty cool! --- Video in lower later evening light at about 470 yards, 82mm scope at max 75x optical plus max iPhone digital zoom for about 375x equivalent. --- Cormorant observed from the top of the dam at: 34.025990, -82.597604 Location of bird on buoy: 34.022430, -82.595851 Parking for walk on top of the dam: 34.022628, -82.603590 or N 34 01.358 W 82 36.215 GPS Russell Dam Drive parking for below dam viewing (potentially would be much closer) at: 34.022928, -82.598188 or N 34 01.376 W 82 35.891 GPS --- Footage of the J. Strom Thurmond bird, from 1/18/2020, can be seen at: https://ebird.org/checklist/S63520168

Technical information

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698 pixels x 652 pixels

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