Cormorant

12" x 12"  Acrylic on canvas board
 
From a distance, Cormorants are dark birds with snaky necks.  But up close they are quite colorful - with orange-yellow skin on their face and throat, stirking aquamarine eyes that sparkle like jewels, and a mouth that is bright blue on the inside.  They are a common sight around fresh and salt water across North America - attracting attention when they stand on docks and markers, sunning themselves with their wings spread out to dry.