Hi everyone, been awhile since I've been here - usually to get a bird ID and so I am seeking your assistance please.
I was at the beach near Mentone this morning and spied a number of birds on a rocky outcrop. Couldn't get close because it's all cliffs around where they were and no beach to walk on. I thought at first the very large bird was a Pied Cormorant but it's considerably larger than the cormorants around it and it has a hooked beak, not like the other cormorants. It actually stood quite tall above the other birds.
Same colouring as the pied cormorant though. What do you think it is please?
Also, I'm not sure what the other two birds are. The last one looks like a crow but different somehow. Its beak is a different colour but might be a discolouring.
I think you are right that the first one is a pied cormorant [link=http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Phalacrocorax-varius]pied cormorant[/link] with the others being [link=http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Phalacrocorax-melanoleucos]little Pied cormorants[/link] and some little black cormorants.
I think the second one is a type of petrel but I can't id which one and the last an immature little raven.
I am not very good at identifying bird so I will probably be corrected on my thoughts.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
I think
1. Pied Cormorant (with a Little Pied and Little Blacks)
2. Immature Kelp / Pacific Gull (Pacific more likely as doesn't appear very streaked).
3. Straggly Raven of some description!
Cheers,
Scott.
Ok, thanks for that. Obviously the photos I'd been seeing online didn't really show how huge the pied cormorant is, and I hadn't noticed the hook beak on the pied cormorant either. Learning all the time!
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria