I created a blog post a couple of weeks ago, with photos of the
Kenmore cormorants:

http://songbirdphoto.com/wordpress/?p=428

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
tweeters "at" dartfrogmedia "dot" com
www.SongbirdPhoto.com


At 09:45 AM 3/23/2012, Michael Clawson wrote:
>There are similar roosts, on Boat st near UW and Augau Verde, and in
>Kenmore near St. Edwards state park, and even further North into
>Bothell in the large trees that line the canal. Also there is a
>communal roost of crows in Bothell and GBH behind the Kenmore park
>and ride. Communal roosting is quite the spectacle, especially with
>such large birds! They are also a great way to get non-birders in
>sheer awe of nature.
>
>Thanks for the heads up about the one in fremont Dennis!
>
>Thanks,
>
>Mike Clawson
>Monroe, Wa
>
>On Fri, Mar 23, 2012 at 9:33 AM, Dennis Paulson
><<mailto:dennispaulson at comcast.net>dennispaulson at comcast.net> wrote:
>I know this has been mentioned before, but it deserves more
>attention. I just happened to be on Nickerson St. in Seattle late
>yesterday afternoon (6:15 pm), and I parked next to the ship canal
>at 180 Nickerson to attend a meeting. As we exited the car, we
>realized there was an ornithological event going on right there.
>Double-crested Cormorants were coming in to roost in the poplars
>adjacent to the canal, and it was a real treat to watch them.
>
>One after another bird came in to land in the branches of these tall
>leafless trees. Sometimes they would make it, sometimes they
>wouldn't and either miss completely or land and then fall off the
>branch, presumably because they couldn't get a good enough grip with
>those big totipalmate feet. Sometimes one would land next to another
>one and actually knock it off its perch or promote a squabble that
>ended with one bird moving down the branch or even flying off. Some
>birds spontaneously flew out from the roost and circled around,
>perhaps to get a better perch on a second try. Mostly they were
>spaced out well apart from one another.
>
>Watching the birds come in to land was a lesson in aerial agility
>(or lack thereof). These are big birds coming in at speed, and the
>branches are rather slender, many of them angled well away from
>horizontal. You could see a variety of strategies to accomplish the
>rather awkward landing. It was quite cold although fortunately not
>raining, and we stood outside for 15 minutes and were in turn
>amused, amazed, and appalled. It's not a great place for
>photography, as the daylight is dimming, but it was reasonably light
>when birds started to come in, and it would be brighter on a sunny
>evening. A person on an adjacent roof with a long lens could have
>great opportunities. By the time we left, after dark, it looked as
>if well over 100 birds were there. Perhaps they sleep in in the
>morning for additional views and photography, but it will have to be
>less entertaining than the evening arrivals.
>
>This spot deserves a daily influx of birders to watch the spectacle.
>Don't stand directly below them, but by all means check out the show!
>
>Dennis
>-----
>Dennis Paulson
>1724 NE 98 St.
>Seattle, WA 98115
><tel:206-528-1382>206-528-1382
><mailto:dennispaulson at comcast.net>dennispaulson at comcast.net
>
>
>
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