Hello Ontbirds people, In a post to Ontbirds today (21 Sep 2011), it was mentioned that a Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) seen at the Deschenes rapids on the Ottawa River exhibited "small white flank patches, one on each side".
Since last fall, several birders on the Ontario & Quebec sides of the Ottawa River have occasionally reported cormorant(s) with "white" on the flanks, in the area of the Deschenes rapids, also east of the rapids near Bate Island and farther west near Shirley's Bay. There was some speculation about possible Great Cormorant, but nothing conclusive. On 05 Sept 2011, Bob Bracken and I observed a DCCO with a white "flank patch" flying over the river towards Deschenes rapids. I was able to get a good look with a spotting scope....and saw a white LEG BAND on its tucked-up left leg. During subsequent correspondence with Chip Weseloh, I learned that he placed white bands on the left legs and metal bands on the right legs of DCCOs when they were "flightless young, mostly on islands in eastern Lake Ontario, near Kingston". Hope this is helpful to clear up the "Mystery of the White-flanked Cormorant" on the Ottawa River! Chris Lewis Ottawa, ON [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
