Cormorant Colony at Cabrillo National Monument

Cormorant Colony off of the steep cliffs of Point Loma at the Cabrillo National Monument.

How to Spot Dolphins

Pelicans, Gulls, Cormorants and Dolphins all mixed together! If you're looking for dolphins, look for the birds first. The birds gather to take advantage of the dolphins efforts at herding fish into a tight school, making an easy meal for the birds! The birds act as a beacon for you to spot the dolphins as the birds congregate in numbers and in mixed groups that would not otherwise occur. Then, if you watch the water, you will see occasional spouts and fins pop up. The same "bird trick" holds true for spotting schools of tuna or other large ocean carnivores that herd bait fish into tight schools or "bait balls." Where there are birds, there is typically something down below herding the bait fish.

Cormorant Surfing the Waves

Cormorant Surfing the Waves and looking for minnows, Imperial Beach, California. I really liked how the waves were just bubbling with motion while the cormorant calmly swam along, not the least bit flustered.

Napping Cormorant

Napping Cormorant. I looked in my Western Birds book and he wasn't there. There are some 40 species of cormorants and shags, most of which I didn't find in pictures so "cormorant" will have to do. In any case, no amount of phony bird calling on my part could convince this little guy to disturb his nap and smile for the camera or, at least, open his eyes... So, here he is, the "napping cormorant."