karinakilldeer's Identifications

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

22 January 2016: Observed several Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) both in the water at the Elm Fork Trinity River and flying overhead. These pics are of one individual who happened to have flown overhead while we visited the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) in Lewisville, Texas. Double-crested Cormorant is a North American cormorant wherein it claims permanent, wintering, and breeding range from Canada (and Alaska) down to Mexico and the Caribbean. The Double-crested Cormorant does not have range that extends beyond these points on the map into Central America or South America. Because of its range in North America, the Double-crested Cormorant is an authentic resident of the Western Hemisphere. LLELA is administered in partnership by the US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Lewisville, Texas, Lewisville Independent School District, and the University of North Texas.

Sources:

"Double-crested Cormorant," All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, range map, photographs, description, resource links, accessed 1.23.16, https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/id

Sohl, Terry, "Double-crested Cormorant," South Dakota Birds, range map, accessed 1.23.16, http://sdakotabirds.com/species/maps/double_crested_cormorant_map.htm

One of a dozen Ruby-crowned Kinglets seen as part of the Big Sur Christmas Bird Count. The total list of birds seen this day at Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park can be found here.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26398433