I find cormorants an interesting family of birds. So far I have photographed 12 different species, (they can be seen in my galleries here .) In South Africa last week I managed to photograph 5 new ones. Possibly the most attractive species seen was the Reed Cormorant (above), they are also known as Long-tailed Cormorants and found commonly all over Africa. I was sat waiting for a Malachite kingfisher to perch in front of the hide at Intaka Island when suddenly this magnificent little cormorant flew in to land on the perch and then after a few minutes went down in to the water to fish.
One of the attractive and distinguishing features of cormorants is the eye which are usually brightly coloured and a big help to seperating the species. The Reed Cormorant is a mostly fresh water species whereas the next species was photographed on the coast. This one is a Crowned Cormorant another small cormorant. This one is in a heavy moult and not in full colour. I found this one drying it's plumage on a jetty. This drying of the plumage is essential because cormorants alow their plumage to get soaked. This enables them to dive and swim with more ease without the feathers being too buoyant.
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