This 18-20' tall tree features 4'' long forrest green needles clustered at the end of shorter branches attached to the larger main branches. These larger branches create a 9'diameter at the base of the tree. The trunk is 1.5 in diameter and covered in pealing light grey bark showing medium brown underneath.
There are about 12 individuals of this species throughout the area.
Spotted these two together in the Venice Canals - the egret was patrolling the edge and the cormorant was in the deeper water towards the middle. Each seemed unbothered by the other and then they both hopped up on these canoes and looked to be enjoying sunning themselves....
For me, there is no better nature scene from the DC-area winter than Eastern Neck's Swan Cove, full of tundra swans.
I counted a minimum of 170.