Although we had only about an inch of snow last week, it has hung around on cars and in shady areas. Despite the continuing cold and overcast weather, I decided yesterday that I needed to get outdoors with my camera. I had several places in mind, but my plans were thwarted when I ran into a traffic jam on the interstate. I took the first exit and decided to visit instead a small suburban pond not far from where I live.
Several species of ducks overwinter at this pond and I spotted Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Ducks in the center of the pond, out of range of my telephoto zoom lens. As I continued circling the pond on a walking trail, I was thrilled to spot several Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) standing in the shallow water not far from the shore. Some bushes separated me from the cormorants, so I had to bend and twist a bit to get a clear shot, but I managed to capture this image of one of them before they turned their backs to me and swam away.
The bright orange color of the cormorants’ bills always captures my attention, but it is the beauty of their brilliantly blue eyes that keeps me transfixed. Wow! Be sure to double-click on the photo to get a closer look at that amazing blue color.
As it turned out, I did not need to travel far to find beauty—figuratively speaking it was in my back yard. It would be cool to have an actual pond in my back yard, but it would have to be a tiny one and my townhouse homeowners’ association would certainly complain about it.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
A beautiful bird. Another one I need to write a poem retelling the myths around it.
Thank you for keeping me inspired.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Patricia. I am thrilled every time that someone tells me that they one of my photos has inspired them to paint or to write or do something else creative. I tend not to think of myself as very creative and that is a side of me that I am deliberately trying to cultivate after spending most of my work life doing analysis. I have been ushered into the world of poetry by my friendship with Damien Donnelly and it has been really enjoyable to “meet” so many of the poets who have been published by The Hedgehog Poetry Press.
On the contrary, Mike, I see you as very creative with your wonderful photography and blogs.
The hoglets at Hedgehog Poetry Press are fabulous and I am so proud to be part of it. We have a wonderful publisher in Mark Davidson too who produces the most awesome books.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Patricia. I guess there is a whole spectrum of creativity and most of us muddle about somewhere in the middle. Quite often, I suspect, we are all our own worst critics and it’s easy to fall into the trap of self-doubt and insecurity. I think I am getting better at confidently putting myself out there without worrying about what others will think. It’s partly, I think, a consequence of getting older. 🙂
I agree with you, we all have that self doubt at times. It took me a while to say ‘I;m a writer’ and it didn’t come until I had done my writing residency as part of my MA when I felt I could say ‘I am a writer’ and not feel a fraud.
The more you put yourself out there, the more confident you will get and I think maturity does help too.
Beautiful capture, Mike!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
Amazing eyes (the duck’s too), lovely pose, and entertaining words. Always a joy stopping by. 🙂
Very nice photo!
We got 8 inches of snow! If it hadn’t turned too sleet we would have got a lot more. I am happy with 8. LOL!
Thanks. Here is in the Washington DC area, we have not had a big snowfall in a few years, but it is always possible if a cold front shifts a bit. Eight inches would paralyze the area for a few days. 🙂
Wonder if that blue eye mesmerizes the fish? Lovely! A pond in your yard would leave you with a yard full of duck poo. Careful what you wish for!!
Sweet capture, Mike. Love its blue eye, and its feathers look almost metallic.
This photo is spectacular, Mike. You captured the sparkling blue of the jeweled eye and the marvelous hook of the bill. The lines of the feathers are another grand highlight. The reflection in the water adds more beauty. Double-crested cormorants are a fairly common bird in this country, yet your skill and his/her beauty are uncommonly stunning.
You’ve caught the dramatic details of the body and head feathers so well here, and the blue eye provides the proverbial dot. Terrific portrait, Mike.
Thanks, Gary. I was thrilled to catch one so close to shore–normally I see that from a much greater distance away.