Cormorant at Lake Padden

When I was taking water samples at the second of the three test locations on Lake Padden I saw two cormorants drying their wings on a log. They were too far away for me to get a decent photo, and I needed to finish taking the samples. After I'd finished I went back and found a location closer to the log, but the cormorants were gone.

I waited about an hour, and during that time one of the birds returned twice. Conditions were marginal for photography -- it was a dark day and the bird was backlit. Although it stayed in the same place on the log for quite a while its head was continually swiveling. (I wouldn't have thought such a large bird would have any predators). So I put my camera on rapid fire and blasted away. This is the best shot -- I think!