The Wildlife of
Croome

 
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Divers - The Cormorant

First seen on Friday 30th September 2016 at Croome

Cormorants were only usually seen flying over or perched in trees at Croome, but now the lake has been repaired and the water levels are much higher, they are once again swimming and fishing in the river (although that's not such good news for the fish population). Cormorants are divers, and can spend quite a while underwater. When on the surface they swim quite low in the water as shown in the photo below.


 

As you can see from the photographs below, they are quite distinct in flight. The first of the two flying photographs was taken in September, the second in February. The second cormorant has a white head and is in spring breeding plumage. I have seen a flock of 10 fly over Croome.



The image below is a typical pose, sat in a large tree. They roost in trees, and sometimes you can see large numbers in a single tree looking a bit like Christmas decorations (see final photo). The most I have seen in one tree at Croome is seven. The other recognisable pose is when they dry their wings on the shoreline or on a post, showing their wonderful golden feathers.


 

The image below those shows their vivid green eyes and hints at those golden feathers.