Neotropic Cormorant

 

May 7th (posted May 8th)

          This morning the rain had stopped but the wind was still howling, and the temperature was cool.  We went back to the lakeshore because we were hoping to find a Neotropic Cormorant that was reported at Magee Marsh yesterday.  This is a very rare bird in Ohio.  We saw a few cormorants but couldn’t identify a Neotropic.  We spent a little time on the boardwalk but didn’t see much of anything. 

As we were leaving, we took one more look for the Neotropic Cormorant.  Miraculously, the cormorant flew in and landed in the canal right by our car.  Mike and I both got great looks at it and there was no doubt that this was the bird.  We were close enough to see the characteristic white V at the base of the bill.  We were very fortunate to see this special bird, but as Mike was trying to get a picture, it flew off.

Until recently the range of the Neotropic Cormorant was limited to parts of Texas in the United States.  After a population drop in the 1960s, possibly due to the effects of DDT, the Neotropic Cormorant has rebounded and expanded its range rapidly in the US.  The species now nests in new areas including Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Louisiana.  This may be why it occasionally turns up during migration in places like Ohio.

After leaving Magee, we made a quick stop at Howards Marsh and saw a Ruddy Turnstone which is a new shorebird for the year.  We then headed east on Route 2 and got to see three Glossy Ibis in a field next to the Barnside Creamery.  

(2 new species, total 234)

          Neotropic Cormorant (very rare)

          Ruddy Turnstone (scarce)

                                        House Wren

                                           Glossy Ibis




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