Cormorants - Ellesmere

On driving through Ellesmere on Saturday, decided to stop and watch the birds for an hour or so. There is a kiosk there where one can buy bags of 'corn' for the birds. There were plenty of geese (greylags, canada, white domestic types, mixtures, hybrids and an Egyptian goose), swans, ducks (mallard, hybrids and tufteds) BH gulls and also, the largest 'flock' of cormorants I have ever seen at any one time!! There was obviously very good fishing because they moved around the mere at speed, constantly diving! After a while, they gradually flew off!

It was like watching a sort of 'mexican wave' with the first few birds diving (as in the pic below) then it carrying on going back in the group!!

"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)

My photos on Flickr

  • hi Marjus

    Super pictures. {thumbs up}

    What a treat for you, and us too LOL

    Never seen so many fishing in a group like that at all.

    Must have been surperb fishing for them - wonder what was so interesting for them to stay as they did.

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful scene with us here.

    You had lots of other species going so that was a delight  - I am sure too!

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  • Great photos MarJus - and what a lovely way to spend an hour or so.

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  • Marjus, I have never seen that many cormarants together. I guess there was a good shoal of fish for them.  Lovely pictures. I can remember watching one trying to swallow a very large eel, which took nearly twenty mins. and I could see the bulge in the birds neck as the eel was consumed. It took a very long time before the cormarant could take off from the marine lake.

  • Oh Brenda, that did conjure up the most wonderful picture in my mind! I will resist the temptation to comment on indigestion, though... ☺

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  • Hi Marjus  very good capture of the flow (the wave). I have never seen the like, very cool stuff, thanks!

    John

    For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.