Great Cormorant taking off

Here's a Great Cormorant I saw off the south shore of Randall's Island the other day.



Note the white patch on the flank. I believe that's diagnostic, as is the white around the base of the bill.

I got a nice series of the takeoff, which I did not expect to work; the little Panasonic GX7 performed admirably. If only I could get it to focus on small birds in branches more consistently...