This afternoon between 1:00 and 1:45 I found the Neotropic Cormorant in the same place where Jane and
Dennis Coskren found it yesterday: well downstream (maybe 1/2 mile?) from Pennyfield Lock, about 100
yards south of the mile 19 marker, where the tow path turns away from the river. The bird was on a small
stump-like snag in the middle of the channel, below some large rocks. The viewing from this location is
excellent - the channel is narrower at this point (since the river is going around a large island) and the tow
path is right alongside and about 20 feet above the river. The light was also very good at this time of day.
Since the bird was by itself (no DCCs for comparison), the field marks that I relied on were the slender, pale
bill, the very pale orange throat patch, and the absence of orange between the eye and the bill. Also, the
neck and upper breast seemed to be a sort of mottled, dusky gray color, while the underparts were very dark.
I observed the bird preening at length on its perch. At one point it flew toward the near bank of the river but
went out of sight. It reappeared swimming near its perch. It dived a couple of times, then took up its perch
again for some more preening. It was still there when I left.
It was a bit of a trek down the tow path (especially when lugging a scope and tripod) but well worth the effort.
Thanks to the Coskrens for finding the bird in this new location!
Elaine Hendricks
Greenbelt, MD
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