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Summerland Flock
updated: Jun 17, 2012, 3:11 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

There's a tree on the ocean side of the freeway, just entering Summerland heading south, that is full of large dark birds (couple dozen) with long black necks and heads. We saw them yesterday and today, but couldn't get pictures. We think they're some kind of cormorant. Anyone else spot these birds?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

AQUAHOLIC	2012-06-17 04:40 PM
YES!...they are Cormorants and there are many nests in the tree as well. I have been trying to figure out how to photograph them. The beach is too far below and I don't think there is a very good spot to stop on the freeway. I'm thinking of the bike path on the opposite side of the highway or walking down the RR tracks (not a good idea either). Still working on it, if I have success, I'll post my pics here of course!
COMMENT 288891	2012-06-17 05:49 PM
They are also in a tree at Shoreline Park, you can get close enough to get a good pic, there have been about 20 of them this week, no nests yet though.
COMMENT 288953	2012-06-18 07:14 AM
Thank you! What's funny is that we were so busy wondering about the birds, we never noticed the nests. :-)
COMMENT 289018	2012-06-18 09:45 AM
Brandt's Cormorants. The awesome photos my friend posted yesterday were taken on a journey to check for any stranded nestlings. I work with the wildlife network. Fortunately these birds are smart enough to build in a place which is very treacherous to reach. I'd reccommend admiring them at the Goleta Slough or at Shoreline.
CORKY	2012-06-19 12:27 PM
I was pretty sure there had been a photo on Edhat, so guess it was just yesterday. showed the tree full of the nests.

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