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Posted by Mark Berney on 17:46:03 12/01/12
I have been checking Wakodahatchee these past few weeks for the return of the Neotropic Cormorants from last winter and today I finally found one.
It was found in the NE part of the wetlands, but the spot is quite distant from the boardwalk. A scope is definitely recommended. I was able to get some distant photos to document the sighting. The attached composite includes three photos of the NECO and photos of a NECO-like or hybrid cormorant that was incubating nearby. The two interacted but no changeover was observed at the nest.
The other cormorant lacked an obvious white gular border, but it did have a pointed gular shape and its color was more yellow than orange. Its supraloral did not have an obvious bare area showing orange as would be expected in adult DCCO. In addition to two white filoplumes on the neck it also sported about five white plumes on the head. It certainly looks like an odd cormorant to me and could possibly be a hybrid NECO x DCCO.
I'll post a map for the exact location in a follow-up email.
For those who might travel for the Neotropic, please be aware that some Double-crested Cormorants are still showing a white border to the lower part of the gular, so care is needed. I was amazed to find 20+ young DCCO already, ranging from a few weeks old to 13 or more weeks old. Care is also needed with young DCCO since they can show a restricted gular area that is colored yellow, the supraloral on some can appear dark and they have more pointed scapulars than adult DCCO. However, young DCCO should all lack an obvious white gular border - a key field mark for NECO.
Mark
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