Bird Watching: DAILY PICS VOL 131, 1 by Resin

Resin wrote:

Quoting:Love the cormorant, Grandmaggie. Are they also called "shags" where you are?

It used to be thought that there were three subgenera of cormorants, large ones (typical cormorants), medium-sized marine ones (shags), and small freshwater ones (pygmy cormorants). Grandmaggie's is a Double-crested Cormorant, which is one of the typical cormorants. Pic below is a European Shag. North American species in the shag group include Red-faced and Pelagic Cormorants. More recent genetic evidence has complicated issues somewhat, the genetic groups don't match the old ideas well.

Quoting:I couldn't believe my eyes when this Australian Pelican opened his mouth and encased his entire upper body with the lower part of his highly flexible bill

That's something they do to keep the bill pouch supple and correctly tensioned - it is mentioned in one of my books.

Resin