This Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus (approx. 33") was hanging out on a Buoy in Southold, NY. It is our most common Cormorant on Long Island. 
The Double-crests (seen in the photos at left) grow during the breeding season. Cormorants dive and swim under the water eating mostly fish. They disappear under the water and will surface a distance from where they submerged. 
Their legs are farther back on their body then a lot of other water birds because it helps them navigate and propel themselves better while they are chasing fish under the water.
After surfacing they may come out of the water and extend their wings to dry off. They have some trouble taking off so you may see them running across the water while flapping their wings to take off. *After a Cormorant dives under the water see if you can find them again when they surface.
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