A great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) drys out its wings after an underwater dive to catch river Lampreys and perches on top of the breaking water at Annacotty Weir, in the lower reaches of the River Mulkear, Co Limerick today.
They have feathers that become easily waterlogged, which allows them to dive deeper by preventing air bubbles from getting trapped underneath their feathers. This is one reason you often see cormorants standing with their wings spread, drying their wet wings after diving.
Pic. Brian Arthur