The Model

In yesterday's post, I mentioned this handsome cormorant was a poser wanting to make sure I got his good side.  How do I know this?  I offer the following:

"How does my neck look?  Are you sure that lens isn't making it look too long?"

"My left side looks good!  Don't you think?!" 

"But, check out my right side!  The sunlight at this hour brings out a hint of blue in my eye." 

And, he played the role of diva supermodel well, being a smidge temperamental, craning his head to see behind the camera:  "Hey! What are you looking at?! Nothing to see here. Move along!  And…could someone powder my beak, puh-leeze!"

By the way, I was asked the difference between a cormorant and an anhinga.  The simple distinction (to me) is in the beak:  an anhinga has a straight knife-like beak and the cormorant has a hooked one.  Happy Sunday!

Poser

This is the end of the fishing pier at Ft. DeSoto park in Tierra Verde -- and a great spot to take photos of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  This cormorant, basking in the late afternoon sun, didn't want to be upstaged by the beautiful bay and the bridge, though.  He was such a handsome poser, he temporarily stole the show -- all while keeping an eye on the Skyway and me (no doubt making sure I was getting his good side).

Ornithology 101

I was 100% sure this was an anhinga, until a knowledgeable looking woman casually remarked from behind her binoculars, 'Ooh, the cormorants here are just wonderful!' That was a puzzling comment. I'm an amateur ornithologist but I know an anhinga when I see one. Or so I thought. Nonchalantly, I made my way to the bird identification sign located a few yards away at the Venice rookery. It indicated both cormorants and anhingas reside here and, much to my surprise, they look remarkably similar. So, after studying my Birds of Florida field guide, I can now say with 110% certainty this is a double-crested cormorant. From this view, the only distinguishing difference is that the cormorant has a hooked beak. And, this guy used that hook to nab three fish in less than ten minutes -- quite an impressive fisherman. My neighbor Ernie tipped me off to the rookery awhile ago, but I rarely find myself in that part of Sarasota County. So, after meeting a friend for lunch down there recently, I made a point to find the rookery. It's tucked off a main highway and packed with feathered creatures, including lots of juveniles right now. So, expect to see more birds pics. And, yes, I'll be using my trusty field guide to assist with the ID.