Found in the Clove at High Mountain in October. What is it?

On Monday I wrote:

I wondered what the bird in this artwork at the National Art Gallery of Iceland was, and was told it was a gannet.

I got to thinking about it and realized, no way!

So what is it?

Diane Louie answered: The stark white throat and bill shape make me think Little Pied or Pied Cormorant but these are found in Australia/New Zealand.

The red eye makes me think of loons, but the bill shape is wrong and the feather-drying posture is characteristic of cormorants.

But what cormorant would attempt to dry its wings by moonlight? Perhaps this is all artistic license and this is an imaginary species. In any case, it is not a Gannet.

I guess we are going with Great Cormorant with artistic license. Thank you, all!

Scott Sherwood of The Nature Conservancy visited the Clove in High Mountain Park Preserve this week and removed all sorts of metal crap that had been dumped there. (I served as his helper.)

Two of the items are next Monday's mystery.  Thanks, Scott and TNC!

Seen twice at the feeders this afternoon. First of the season for me.

Susan the red-shouldered hawk perches on a branch after her release near The Raptor Trust. Credit: Jim Wright

Since my column ran on Thanksgiving this year, I thought I'd write about two reasons I'm thankful as a birder -- Red-shouldered Hawks of Allendale and The Raptor Trust. Seems like they go hand-in-hand.

You can read the column here: