Cormorant?

[Bill S]

Hi all

First post in the birds section, I spotted this in a local river the other day, apologies for the IQ but it's a bit of a big crop.

Is it a Cormorant? I've never seen one up close and was a bit surprised to read they are getting more common on reservoirs, lakes and inland waterways in general. It was about 0.5 miles from a fish farm!

Many thanks in advance.

Bill

[Ukwildlifeo]

Certainly looks like one. The only other thing it could be is a Shag and they dont have the white patch and a less extensive yellow patch near the beak and are far less common inland.
Cormorants are quite common in land now, we have some at my local park lake every winter now, which the local fisherman 'love'

[solus]

Yes, Cormorant.

Shags are smaller (not that that's a lot of help unless you've got the two side by side for comparason) and have a more rounded forehead whereas the Cormorant has a much flatter profile. And as UKwildlifeo says, Shags are pretty rare (but not unheard of!) inland.

[Bill S]

Thanks both,

Cheers

Bill