Hi:

I joined this list to report that yesterday around noon I saw what I believe to be an albino cormorant. I originally saw this on Ruston Way, Tacoma, about 100 yards west of the Les Davis Pier and parking lot.

Initially I thought this was a domestic duck that had taken to salt water and then I noticed that it sat low in the water and much to my surprise it then dove under the water staying for a long period of time. It would surface from time to time and from what I could tell without binoculars is that not only were all the feathers white, but both the bill and the feet were a very light yellow. In my initial sighting it was about 50 feet from shore. It dove and spent a great deal of the time under water.

After my original sighting I walked away from this area for several minutes and on returning to the parking log at the Les Davis Pier I again saw it about 50 feet in front of the parking lot directly between the lot and the pier, continuing to dive. Because I'm not a pro I don't know which kind of cormorant it could be (if that's what it is) and I don't know if this is rare. I didn't see any other cormorants in the area though I have seen 'normal' ones there in the past.

I'll be returning to that area again today and see if I can see it again.

Jim Brewster
Tacoma
email: jaysontownsend at msn.com<mailto:jaysontownsend at msn.com>