Double Crested Cormorant 7-16-2013

I spotted this double-crested cormorant drying its feathers on a weathered coastal piling during a bright summer morning along the shoreline. Getting close enough for a clean profile shot without startling the wild bird took a bit of patience, but the clear open conditions made the quiet coastal wait worthwhile.

The tight crop showcases the cormorant’s dark iridescent plumage, striking turquoise eye, and hooked yellow beak against a cloudless blue sky. Natural directional sunlight brings out individual feather barb textures across its neck and patterned mantle, creating a bold, high-contrast avian portrait with zero distracting elements around the perched bird.