A Gulp of Cormorants

There are quite often a few cormorants sitting on the rocks opposite Lower largo Pier, but yesterday there were a lot more than usual. I looked up the collective noun for cormorants and found two - a flight (but these weren't in flight) and a gulp which I rather liked..

Some of the cormorants were in the water suddenly diving out of sight.

At the other end of the rocky outcrop one cormorant spreading its wings also some gulls and oystercatchers.

High Tide on the Rocks

With high tide approaching sea birds congregeate on the rocks opposite Lower Largo Pier. Here there are cormorants including a juvenile with a white breast also herring gulls and a greatblack-backed gull.

Cloudy Sunset

Almost totally clear sky over Largo Bay but as the sun goes down some tall clouds appear above the horizon.

Cormorant is silhouetted in characteristic pose.

Sun goes down behind the billowing clouds.

Cormorant - Characteristic Pose

Cormorant drying its wings on the rocks opposite Lower Largo pier.

Cormorants

The cormorants usually perch on the rocks opposite the pier but on Sunday they were perching on the harbour posts. They are larger than the similar looking shags and can be distinguished by the patch of white at the throat. The adult has an orange spot below its eye. (Click on above picture to enlarge and see this clearly.)

I was fascinated by the recent HSBC cormorant fishing advert. This is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in rivers. Historically, cormorant fishing has taken place in Japan and China, as well as other places throughout the world.
To control the bird, the fisherman tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat (though this isn't shown in the advert!!). This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can swallow smaller fish. When a cormorant has cought a fish in its throat, the bird is brought back to the boat to spit the fish out. Although, it was once a successful fishing industry, it's mainly practiced today to impress tourists. (Information from Wikipedia)

A juvenile cormorant with white underparts.

A cormorant in typical pose with its wings outspread to dry.

Heron

Heron amongst the kelp at low tide. In the background there is a cormorant on the rock.

Pink-footed goose, Red-breasted merganser, Cormorant

Several interesting sightings on my walk today. There was a single pink-footed goose swimming in the harbour at Lower Largo. Pink-footed geese are usually in large groups, and it's unusual to see one on it's own, so although it didn't appear to be injured, perhaps there was something wrong. I first noticed it standing amongst the rocks opposite the pier. It then swam out to sea, and as I followed it with the binoculars, I saw a male red breasted merganser, just off the pier. There were also cormorants on the rocks, one with wings outspread. as I walked home a weasel or a stoat (weasel I think) darted acoss my path, chestnut coat and creamy-white underbelly.

Cormorants on the rocks.

Red-breasted merganser (front of picture) and pink-footeed goose (swimming away)

Pink-footed goose

Cormorants at the pier

Bitterly cold day, but there were cormorants diving in the harbour by the pier at Lower Largo. They dive so quickly, one minute there, the next gone, to come up some distance from the original spot.
Mallard ducks in the harbour and a grey wagtail on the rocks.