Wildlife Wednesday: Brandt’s Cormorants Nesting at Moss Landing 🪹🪶
Join us for wildlife stories, field notes, and plenty of coastal surprises - from sea lions at the marina to hidden tide pools and a shop full of nature-inspired art.
Wildlife Wednesday // June 25th, 2025
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This Week in the Wild
Welcome back to Wildlife Wednesday! If you’ve ever drifted past the old pilings in Moss Landing before sunrise, you know the scene: dozens of black silhouettes packed onto weathered wood, the air busy with calls and the shuffle of wings. April is prime nesting season for Brandt’s cormorants along California’s coast, and Moss Landing turns into a buzz of activity.
I was out on the water before dawn, bundled up and balancing a mug of coffee, camera ready. The first thing you notice is the chaos: some birds fussing with their own nests, others sidling over to swipe the best bits of seaweed from next door. It’s a constant, noisy shuffle, and every nest tells its own story.
Blue Throat Patches: Not Always On Display
One of the most striking things about Brandt’s cormorants during breeding season is the electric blue throat patch. Brandt’s cormorants display their vivid blue throat patch primarily during the breeding season, which peaks in spring along California’s coast. The blue is so bold, it’s surreal. But here’s a detail you might miss if you’re just passing by: not every bird shows that blue all the time. The patch is brightest and most visible when the birds are actively displaying - open-mouthed calls, courtship, or the occasional neighborly dispute over nest materials. At rest, or when not in the mood to show off, the blue fades into the dark feathers and can disappear entirely.
That blue isn’t universal, either. It’s a seasonal signal, shown most vividly by adult males during breeding season to attract mates and defend nest sites. Females may show some blue, but it’s usually less intense. Juveniles don’t have the blue at all, and their plumage is paler and browner than the sleek black of adults in breeding condition.
On this morning, I saw both: a few birds with throats flashing neon blue as they called or postured, others quietly tending their nests, blending into the crowd. The difference is all about timing and behavior, and a closer look at age and sex - a small but fascinating detail if you’re watching closely.
Nest Building, Material Theft, and a Lot of Drama
Most of the action centered around nest building (or, more accurately, nest stealing). Brandt’s cormorants gather seaweed, sticks, and whatever else they can find to build up their nests. But the best materials are always in short supply, and some birds will go to great lengths to “borrow” from their neighbors. It’s a mix of patience, persistence, and a little bit of chaos.
Conservation & Ethical Birdwatching
Moss Landing is one of California’s best spots for coastal birdwatching, but it’s also a sensitive habitat. If you visit, bring binoculars or a long lens and keep a respectful distance from nesting colonies. Ethical wildlife photography means letting the birds go about their business undisturbed. These photos were all taken on a 200-600mm lens.
Related Field Notes
If you enjoyed this, check out last week’s post on sea lions at the marina or our Monterey day trip for more coastal wildlife stories.
What I’d Do Differently (And What I’d Do Again)
Would I do a sunrise boat trip for cormorants again? Absolutely.
Would I try to keep track of who’s stealing from whom? Maybe not. There’s always a new drama unfolding, and sometimes it’s better to just watch and let the story play out.
P.S. Prints from this set are now in the shop. You can also sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of this page for more stories and field notes from the coast. (Unsubscribing’s always an option, no hard feelings.)
Have you seen Brandt’s cormorants in breeding color, or visited Moss Landing during nesting season? Share your experience in the comments below.
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