Darby and Joan - a photo on Flickriver

Darby and Joan

Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus

The reed cormorant, also known as the long-tailed cormorant, is a bird in the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae. It breeds in much of Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagascar. It is resident but undertakes some seasonal movements.

This is a small cormorant at 50–55 cm length and an 85 cm wingspan. It is mainly black, glossed green, in the breeding season. The wing coverts are silvery. It has a longish tail, a short head crest and a red or yellow face patch. The bill is yellow. Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner, with a white belly. Some southern races retain the crest all year round.

The reed cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. It takes a wide variety of fish. It prefers small slow-moving fish, and those with long and tapering shapes, such as mormyrids, catfishes, and cichlids. It will less frequently eat soles (which can be important in its diet locally), frogs, aquatic invertebrates, and small birds.

This image, of a pair of cormorants in breeding plumage (male on the left), was captured at Marievale Bird Sanctuary, a wetland area near the town of Nigel, South Africa on a very dull and wet day. The light was poor for photography; requiring high ISO settings to get any decent shutter speeds. ISO 3200 for most of the day.

©2014 Duncan Blackburn
www.duncannaturephotography.com

Taken in: South Africa / Gauteng / Nigel (show map)

Taken on: December 16, 2014

Tags:

Nikon

Namibia

Bird

Marievale

Reed

Cormorant

Nigel

South Africa

NGC

NPC « less

Sets appears in: • 7000 - 15000 Views • Birds

Groups appears in: • Spectacular Animals-Invited Photos Only • Super Shots - Post 1 - Award 2 more » • Excellence In Avian Photography (EIAP) -- INVITED IMAGES ONLY !! • TMI: your ART & NATURE **NO PEOPLE OR MAN-MADE OBJECTS** P1♥C1 • Damn! I Wish I'd Taken That!!! (Invite Only) Post 1-Award2 . • Birds of Southern Africa • Colors Of The Heart! *Invited Images Only*! • NATURE'S PRIME (P1/A4) • Nature's Carousel - Closed! • Nature's Golden Carousel ~ Closed! • Outstanding Bird Photography - P1 - A3 (Admin Invite Only) • dreams I'll dream.. by invitation ~ P1/C3 • #3 PALLADIUM WILDLIFE/ Post 1 - Award 5 (P2-A10) with CODE • *Feathers & Beaks* P1 - A3 • Amazing Nature True Nature And Nothing Else • #2 18K Gold wildlife/ Post 1 - Award 3 (P2-A6) with CODE • ☼ extraordinaire (Level 1 - P1/A4) NO B/W, NO FRAMES • Eblouissante Nature / Brilliant Nature - P1/C2 - No People • Love South Africa • Our Wonderful and Fragile World - P1 - A4 • Café Renee: ☼ A Gourmet Menu ☼ • NATURE'S SPIRIT (by invitation) (post 1/award 1) • Soar in Nature’s Spirit (invitation only) • Rainbow of Nature Level 2 : ORANGE (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 3 : YELLOW (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 6 : PINK (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 4 : GREEN (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 5 : BLUE (Post1-Award4) • Rainbow of Nature Level 7 : PURPLE (Post1-Award4) • BAT'S LAIR ( P 1 X A 3 ) SWEEPER IN OPERATION • Illuminations Exposé • Illuminations in the Wild • PHOTO MIX - Level 1 (P1-A2) • ***NATUREs Harmony (Com 2) - ONLY birds/living creatures « less

Camera: Nikon D4S, f/5.6, 1/3200 sec, 550mm, ISO 3200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D4S
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	550mm
ISO:	3200
Exposure Bias:	-2/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture NX 2.4.7 M
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