Our own Loch Ness Monster

The Loch Ness Monster that suddenly popped up on the pond this morning under my nose really startled me. It quickly took off; it was only a Double-crested Cormorant but it looked huge. I don't often see one that close. How did it get in the pond? It was high tide and it must have been swimming underwater; there are snappers and other fish that come into the pond at high tide. Apparently cormorants can swim good distances underwater. It must have entered the pond underwater; I never saw it dive.

The change in weather last night (high winds followed by some rain overnight) did not come in time to spark a big movement of birds last night but there were a few migrants around: American Redstart, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, a Traill's-type flycatcher with a narrow eyering (probably a Willow) and, most impressively, a big accipiter in immature plumage sitting quietly in a tree just off the outer trail. It only flew at the very last minute when I was almost upon it. It was a Cooper's on size alone but the ID was confirmed by the squarish head, the amount of white below and the rounded tail. Sometimes you really can tell, especially if you can get that close. As with the cormorant, I don't usually get that close to big raptors.

A good-sized dragonfly with a yellow tapered abdomen, clear wings and a strong, persistent flight at ankle level was zipping around the banks of the pond. It was probably a Wandering Glider, reputed to be the world's most widely distributed dragonfly. I waited patiently for it to perch but it never stopped gliding and eventually disappeared.

Eric Salzman