The Bird Collection

Double-crested cormorant, Still of the morning

Mirror Flight – Double-crested Cormorant, Prince Edward County

On a perfectly calm morning, the waters of Lake Ontario lay smooth as glass. From a low clifftop, we watched a handful of cormorants fish in the hush of early light.

As I focused on one, it suddenly took flight. Skimming just inches above the still surface, its wings stretched wide — the water below undulating glass. Bird and reflection aligned in near-perfect symmetry, casting a double silhouette in soft morning hues

This image captures that moment of grace: a dark-winged cormorant suspended in motion, mirrored below in delicate detail. Sky and lake blend seamlessly, leaving only a fleeting echo of flight.