Date: 11/3/25 5:28 pm From: Toby Burke via groups.io <kenaibirder...> Subject: [AKBirding] Kasilof River 11/3: BRANT'S CORMORANT
As we were finishing up our birding at the Kasilof River mouth we took one last look at Cook Inlet from the parking lot viewing platform before heading home. With naked eyes, we could see a cormorant flying low over the water headed north. This far north in the Inlet any cormorant species is notable, with nearly all being DCCOs. The flyby cormorant was large and heavily built so we presumed it was likely a DCCO, as 99% of all upper Cook Inlet cormorants are, but upon closer look with our optics we did not see a yellow-orange gular patch nor was the neck sharply kinked, though it was slightly kinked. The bird continued flying north but fortuitously landed two-thirds of a mile to the north and was swimming toward shore. We hiked north to where the bird was actively foraging in the surf. Several times the wave action actually threw the bird on the beach but the bird quickly returned to the water each time and resumed foraging in the narrow, rough surf zone. As we approached, the bird retreated further offshore but did not depart, continuing to forage in deeper water among flocks of GRSC and COGO.
Again, the cormorant was heavily built with a thick neck and blocky head (unlike a PECO), no yellow-orange gular patch (unlike a DCCO), and no light colored bill (as in RFCO), the bill was significantly longer and thicker. The bird did exhibit a light tan chin area and a brownish neck in better light. The skies were nearly completely overcast so colors were muted. This bird exhibited the very same notable "jiz" as two BRACs we observed in Resurrection Bay in October 2019. Later this evening we will post other supporting photos on eBird.
