The N'th no success Cormorant day

[odds]

I visualize an image of a Cormorant in high speed flight just barely above the water. Despite hundreds of images, I have not managed yet. So I set out the other afternoon, Cormorants fly after drying their feathers to perch before dark.

The waves were too small, I want my Cormorant flying just above and along a wave, and I need the camera low for sky background. So I sat down at a boulder, behind some rocks in the tidal zone and kept a low profile, Cormorants are shy. They usually prefer to rest at a little elevation, but I found them sitting low with wings spread wide to dry their feathers. Long time ago those birds were believed to be bad omens. I've heard it was because the they look like a cross with their wings spread for drying. My first image shows a Cormorant just about to leave the rock where I had observed him for more than twenty minutes. A few more shots, but it was just another unsuccessful Cormorant day. Waves way too small anyway.

A little mink turned up to my right, dragging the afternoon catch along rotting seaweed. I hasted and barely managed to get image 2 before the animal disappeared. Yes, the eye is out of focus. She/he appeared on a rock surface slightly above the water, probably evaluating the route forward, image 3. That darned Nikon shutter. Alarmed in image 4, and I'm not welcome. First reaction is to ferry the dinner out of my reach, image 5. Reconsidered, wants to get a better look at me and turned around, image 6. I can tell I'm not popular. Then she rapidly disappeared and reappeared multiple times at different places between the rocks, and always without the precious meal, probably to be able to move quicker. Finally she paused and evaluated me for half a minute or so, image 7. The fish is partly visible to the left of her foot. I was deemed dangerous, the safe route was to swim and climb more rocks to leave me behind, image 8.

Image 1, Cormorant ready for takeoff


Image 2, Mink appears


Image 3, Evaluates route forward


Image 4, Hush, go mirrorless


Image 5, Swim to safety


Image 6, Am I overreacting?


Image 7, I have hidden my dinner. Ugly camera, go mirrorless


Image 8, I am out of here

--
Odd S.

[Rufus]

Very good pictures and I enjoyed the narrative.

[Geoff F]

Looks as though you a a bit of a light angle problem in the first scene so I suspect this was never going to work well.

With the mink images, #6 is the perfect shot for me.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, your backup subject seemed to save the day.

[Rita]

Who needs a Cormorant when you have a mink. Nice shots.

[mugge]

I liked the narrative. The pictures also.
Cheers Ole

[Wavelength]

Yes, fine illustration of an event...

[Tom Barry]

Excellent series and narrative.

[joebranko]

Narrative and pictures are all engaging. Great work!

[odds]

Thank you all for your nice comments.

Mink is a controversial animal in my country, an alien once imported from North America for fur production. When I grew up there were many mink farms in our area, our neighbor just across the road had a mink farm. Animals escaped from the farms and mink was established in the wild. The law makers and the government want mink out of our fauna, but that is more easily legislated than done.
--
Odd S.