Ontbirds subscribers, At 7:40 a.m., Dan Kaczynski and I saw an adult Neotropic
Cormorant in the bay off of Thickson's Woods. It was seen in direct comparison
with a group of 10 Double-crested Cormorants and scores of Red-breasted
Mergansers. The bird was barely longer or heavier looking than the many
Red-breasted Mergansers when first found and it was much smaler than the group
of Double-crested Cormorants when it joined them. It also had a much smaller
head, thinner neck and noticeably shorter bill than the Double-crested
Cormorants. The rear of the gular pouch was surrounded by a narrow white
feathered border that came to a sharp point in the rear and extended across and
under the chin. At 7:50 a.m., Dan saw the bird fly east with the group of 10
Double-crested Cormorants until it went around Stephenson Point to the east. I
am heading over to the east to see if it can be re-found between here and
Oshawa Second Marsh. To reach Thickson's Woods, take Hwy 401 to exit 412
(Thickson Rd. S.) and travel south all the way to the terminus at the
cul-de-sac for the Waterfront Trail. Park here and walk south from the
cul-de-sac along the last portion of Thickson Rd. S. right to the lake. Walk
east on the private road (Crystal Beach Boulevard) until you reach #330 - the
Neotropic Cormorant was seen in the bay off here and later flew east around the
point to the east of this bay. Glenn CoadyWhitby, Ontario
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