The Double-crested Cormorant is a common but dazzling sight here in our marshes and wetlands, with its sleek, glistening plumage and “striking aquamarine eyes that sparkle like jewels.” (All About Birds)
Gems for eyes
Birder's Journey
"You must have birds in your heart before you can find them in the bushes." — John Burroughs (Journal of the Outdoor Life, v20, 1923, p. 137)
Birder's Journey 
a stunning bird. Thank you
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Yes! And too often overlooked. Thanks Berny!
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Beautiful captures BJ !
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Thank you, AB! These birds look especially beautiful just after emerging from the water.
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Truly so. Great portrait.
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Thank you, Michael! They often pose for photographers here along the boardwalk !😉
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You’re welcome.
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In marshes where the waters gleam, 🌾 A Double-crested Cormorant beams. 🖤 With plumage sleek, in sunlight bright, 🌞 A common bird, yet such a sight!
Its feathers glisten, sleek and true, ✨ But what’s more dazzling comes in view. 👀 “Striking aquamarine eyes,” they say, 💎 Gems that sparkle, night and day.
In wetland’s calm and tranquil scenes, 🌊 The Cormorant with eyes like dreams. 💙 A jewel among the reeds and sky, 🌿 With sparkling gaze that catches the eye.
A common bird, yet oh so grand, 🖤 A gem that graces nature’s land. 💎 In marshes wide where waters flow, 🌾 A Cormorant’s gaze, a jewel’s glow.
💙🌾🖤✨👀🌞💎🌿🌊
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Beautiful, Yishai! You’ve definitely captured the scene!
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🥳💖
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I am jealous of those eyes!
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Aren’t they just amazing??!! And most striking when the sun hits them just right.
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Such fine detail in those black feathers! And those eyes 😊
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I love the patterns in their feathers almost as much as their amazing eyes!! Thanks for your visit, Belinda.
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The cormorants we see along the Front Range are pretty ‘meh’ — basic black birds with feet in odd places. Maybe I’m just not looking closely enough.
Because this bird is stunning! Thank you for sharing.
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I know just what you mean, Amy! In fact, I often think of our cormorants as just sort of ordinary, common birds. But there’s something about how they look when they’re glistening from the water and their eyes are so bright. Their beauty just jumped out at me on this day.
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I used to say bad things in the direction of Cormorants stealing fish off my hook before I could land them. Nowadays, I enjoy photographing them every chance I get.
The eyes have it.
Wonderful photographs highlighting those gems.
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Thanks so much, Wally! It took me a while to really appreciate the beauty of the Cormorant, too. Though I must say I’ve never seen one steal a fish from a fisherman.😅
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Go to your nearest pier. It won’t take long!
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Haha!! 🎣 At our nearby NWR, there’s a very well-fed gator who hangs around under the fishing pier!
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You this an amazing black Cormorant. Anita
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He’s a beauty!
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I also always love seeing those beautiful blue eyes.
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I do too, Tanja. They are astonishing!
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Beautiful close ups!
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Thank you so much!
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It’s as if the rest of the bird is black just to emphasise those amazing eyes and the yellow that contrasts so well with them – beautiful!
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Yes!! Great observation, Ann!
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Such beautiful photos, of the black cormorant! The radiant eyes!
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Thanks so very much, Lorri!
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I rank the Cormorant eyes up there with the best in wildlife as a whole, especially when the light hits them just right. Maybe they are just really green with envy ha.
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Agreed! They are really remarkable!
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That plumage, appropriately enough for such good swimmers, resembles fish scales! The eyes are indeed stunning.
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What an insightful connection, Carol. I’ve always admired the patterns in their plumage, but it never occurred to me how similar they are to fish scales. Great observation!
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