Watch the birdie

More picspam, from a walk along the canal a couple of weeks ago - took the same walk today but forgot my camera, which was annoying because I saw a couple of very nice Mandarin ducks. Anyway, last time I got pictures of another odd duck - not sure of species - and a big black bird I couldn't get close enough to identify - I think it may be a heron of some sort but I'm not sure. Anyone know?

( picspam )

later - several IDs of the big bird as a cormorant, and a tentative ID of the duck as a male Ruddy Shelduck that doesn't have its full plumage from were_gopher. Must say the cormorant thing surprises me, but I suppose there is nothing impossible about it.