Just wanted to second Fred's excellent analysis of the cormorant 
observed Saturday evening.  Fred showed me the bird, and just about 
every Neotropic field mark (for a bird with this plumage) appeared to be 
present except for the pointed shape of the facial skin at the rear of 
the gape -- the light was too dim to determine whether it was pointed or 
rounded. In addition, the bird appeared to have the dark lores Sibley 
notes as a field mark for Neotropic.  (I'll add that I purchased a scope 
recently, and was fortunate enough to obtain a Kowa 883, which has an 88 
mm objective. Given the low light conditions, the apparent dark lores 
may not have been observable through other scopes.)  I look forward to 
seeing what the photos reveal.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland

Fred Shaffer wrote:
> I agree with Leslie Starr's earlier post that many in the group on the evening of 6/20 felt fairly comfortable that we had found the Neotropic Cormorant.  The cormorant in question was located a few minutes after 8:10 PM and we were able to study it until the light gave out.  Although the bird was distant (as were all the cormorants), all the structural, size, and plumage field marks that were visible were consistent with a NECO.
>
> More specifically, the cormorant was noticably smaller than all the surrounding Double-crested Cormorants.  This could be seen when the NECO was viewed at a level of magnification where the surrounding birds could also be seen.  The NECO was smaller and more slender than the eight or nine cormorants that were close enough for ready comparison.  This was apparent from various angles and positions over the time we viewed the bird.  The bird also had a tail that seemed longer in proportion to the rest of the body than the other birds.  The bill was also appeared to be thinner, shorter, and less brightly colored than the other birds, although this was particularly difficult to judge (and perhaps subjective).  Finally, the plumage of the bird was consistent with an immature NECO, having a decidedly brownish wash to the upper breast and neck, unlike the more pale breasted and more contrasty immature Double-crested Cormorants.
>
> Admittedly, there was no "eureka" moment when everyone agreed that we had found the bird we were looking for, but I think that the marks that were seen and commented on over the 20 or so minutes that we viewed the bird were all consistent with the identification.   For the 2005 NECO, the definitive moment (at least for me) came when I saw the NECO in flight with several Double-crested Cormorants and the structural and size differences were really highlighted.  We did not see this bird in flight.  But, nothing in the field notes that I took contradict an identification of a NECO.  I should also note that I never got a good feel or view of the shape of the throat pouch, probably due to the distance and that the bird seemed to be constantly preening.  But, the size, structure, and plumage marks that were noted support a NECO, at least in my estimation.  
>
> As Leslie stated, a further evaluation of the many photos taken may reveal something that we missed or wasn't evident in the field.  However, a preliminary look at Mark Hoffman's photos (at least in the view screen of his camera), seemed to support the NECO identification.  I look forward to seeing any discussion on the photos that were taken.
>
> Fred Shaffer
> Patuxent MOS
> 
>
>
>