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		| SAP284 
 
 
 Joined: 07 Jun 2011
 Posts: 655
 Location: Central, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:38 pm    Post subject: What animal is this? |   |  
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				| I was in the cove of the river last weekend and I saw the coolest thing. It was a "duck-like" animal that was black swimming around and diving for fish. Anyways I saw one with a small catfish in its mouth trying to somehow swallow it. Does anyone know what type of bird/aquatic animal it was? I hope it's not a duck because I'll feel like a major jackass but I don't think it was. I need to get some fishing tips from that animal! _________________
 Steve
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		| ripline 
 
 
 Joined: 26 Feb 2012
 Posts: 121
 Location: Shelton
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:52 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Cormorant. If they don't do something about them soon there won't any fish left to catch. |  | 
	
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		| jjbassfishn 
 
  
 Joined: 17 Jun 2012
 Posts: 209
 Location: Northwestern CT.
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:19 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Not as bad for us as they only pass thru. They winter in the south and summer up north. They cause the most havoc down south from what I read. Called water turkeys in the south. 
 We saw one in winchester last spring. It dove after a released fish we caught. Luckly the fish got away! Didn't see any this spring, I think it warmed so fast they didn't stop for long here.
 _________________
 PB LMB 9.3LBS Winchester Lake
 PB SMB 5.8LBS Colebrook Res.
 PB Pike 3.85LBS Winchester Lake
 
 Can't catch em sittin on the sofa!
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		| DirtyDawg10 
 
  
 Joined: 27 May 2009
 Posts: 2238
 Location: Granby, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:43 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Probably a loon |  | 
	
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		| hila2006 
 
  
 Joined: 22 Jul 2011
 Posts: 582
 Location: Ellington
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:06 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Yeah, either a cormorant, or a loon.  We had lots of both up in Mass.  The cormorants do a ton of damage to bass populations, not so much loons.  Cormorants are a little bigger than loons, loons have small white stripes here and there, cormorants are a basically black and brown ugly bird. |  | 
	
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		| PECo 
 
  
 Joined: 06 Oct 2009
 Posts: 5203
 Location: Avon, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:01 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| It could have been an anhinga, too, although they tend to stay down South: 
  	  | Quote: |  	  | Physical Differences Between the Anhinga and Cormorant Although these two water birds are often mistaken for each other, each of them has distinguishing characteristics. A primary difference between the anhinga and the cormorant is the shape of the bill. Anhingas have pointed bills while cormorants have a hooked bill. Cormorants also typically have a yellow to orange color near the bill, while anhingas do not.
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 _________________
 Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!
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		| DirtyDawg10 
 
  
 Joined: 27 May 2009
 Posts: 2238
 Location: Granby, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:44 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I mentioned loon because he said it looked like a duck. Cormorants are quite a bit bigger with longer beaks. It could have been either one though. |  | 
	
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		| SAP284 
 
 
 Joined: 07 Jun 2011
 Posts: 655
 Location: Central, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:25 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I wish I took a picture. It definitely didn't have a long beak or a hooked beak. Oh well, next time I'll take a picture...whatever it was, even if it was invasive, pulled off a nice dive and capture on the catfish. _________________
 Steve
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		| TT 
 
 
 Joined: 14 Dec 2010
 Posts: 34
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:46 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| I would say cormorant. Saw at least a dozen at Colebrook last weekend. Lots of them up on Lake Ontario. I think more thasn sea gulls. |  | 
	
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		| PECo 
 
  
 Joined: 06 Oct 2009
 Posts: 5203
 Location: Avon, CT
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 10:23 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Since it didn't have a long or a hooked beak and looked like a duck, it was probably a loon. _________________
 Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!
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		| NWDarkcloud 
 
  
 Joined: 23 Apr 2012
 Posts: 474
 
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:37 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| the big give away for a loon from a distance is the bright white collar you can see that way off..... 
   while the Cormorant has a oily more uniform color look to it and the shorter hook type beak
 
   while the Anhinga has a longer pointy beak and the neck also looks longer to me when Ive seen them side to side with Cormorants
 
  _________________
 I Love to fish......Not a big fan of sitting in the boat alone ....the Conversation and the company make it perfect
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		| Michael 
 
  
 Joined: 28 Jan 2012
 Posts: 3823
 Location: Bridgeport
 
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				|  Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:21 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Cormorants are such a nuisance! They eat up so many of our fish, esp freshly stocked trout in lakes and ponds and baitfish in saltwater. 
 They are currently protected by the state when they shouldn't be because of how their population has bloomed. Many wish that there could be an open season for them.
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		| jjbassfishn 
 
  
 Joined: 17 Jun 2012
 Posts: 209
 Location: Northwestern CT.
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:20 am    Post subject: |   |  
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				| While fishing at McD this weekend, we saw these 2 diving for fish. Pretty sure they are Cormorant's. 
 
   
 My son saw a similar bird at Besse pond a couple of weeks ago.
 _________________
 PB LMB 9.3LBS Winchester Lake
 PB SMB 5.8LBS Colebrook Res.
 PB Pike 3.85LBS Winchester Lake
 
 Can't catch em sittin on the sofa!
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		| Michael 
 
  
 Joined: 28 Jan 2012
 Posts: 3823
 Location: Bridgeport
 
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				|  Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:15 pm    Post subject: |   |  
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				| Those look like them JJ. Cormorants are more common than any other bird in CT that goes under for fish. |  | 
	
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