Pelagic Cormorant

This cormorant is black. All that lovely blue is a trick of the light or the camera. Wiki says the breeding adults have a green sheen, but this bird did not look this colorful in person. We keep marveling at the strange places these birds choose for their nests--this one is stuck to the face of the crumbling cliff. It looks very unstable and awkward, but the birds seem to be able to balance on nearly vertical surfaces, and it probably is pretty safe from predators. I wonder if we will ever see the chicks.

The Extra gives more of an idea of their habitat. I love the way they stick themselves on the wall.