Michel Cavigelli asks: 

> Where have all the cormorants gone?  Or, are they 
> generally scarce in OC this time of year?

Michel, according to the Yellow Book, Great Cormorants are generally
here from early October through the end of March.  They begin to be
somewhat spotty in April through mid-May, and are then absent until
late in September.

Double-crested Cormorants, on the other hand, are here in Maryland
year-round.  Migrants begin to build in early March, peak in April,
then taper off to breeding birds in May through August.  Migrants
again begin to build up in late August, peak in October and then
reach their winter populations by early December.

In other words, you should have seen a Great Cormorant, but, as luck
would have it, you didn't.  When we were enjoying the Thick-billed
Murre a few weeks back, we saw only one lone Great Cormorant,
sitting on the pilings behind the motel there at the inlet.  Prior
to that we had 4-5 in one day!

Luck of the draw.

Best,
Norm Saunders