possible Neotropic cormorant Ottawa County

[lfranck at co.ottawa.mi.us]

During an Ottawa County Parks birding trip today (Monday), we were at the 
end of the south pier in Grand Haven (next to Grand Haven State Park). 
There were many double-crested cormorants in the water and flying near the 
pier.  As I was scanning, I saw a cormorant that was smaller and 
thinner-necked than the nearby dc cormorants and had less orange on its 
throat area.  It was diving and the waves were fairly high making it 
difficult to see birds as they dove and emerged.  The bird was about 150 
yards out.  I found it again for another very brief look before it dove 
again.  Other birders in the group also briefly saw the bird and agreed 
that it looked smaller.  Then we couldn't find it again.  A few minutes 
later, the smaller cormorant flew past the end of the pier at fairly close 
range and I could see a longer tail and also could see the white bordered 
throat patch that came to a sharp "V" behind the bill.  There was a small 
amount of orange in the throat pouch and the orange seemed paler than on 
the dc cormorants..  Other than that, the bird was black.  It flew south 
toward the shoreline until we lost sight of it.  This was about 9 am. 

I saw nothing to make me think this was an aberrant double crested 
cormorant and I saw nothing that would indicate that it was not a 
Neotropic cormorant.  But am I 100% sure.  NO.  I believe this would be a 
new state record if confirmed.

I plan to look for the bird today after work.

Chip Francke
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