The winds rose in the night. All morning, they strengthened. By afternoon, when I headed out for my walk, the trees were tossing and waving. I kept being blown from the path. Only the herring gulls seemed able to ride the gale, their white, arched wings barely rippling in the gusts. I was near the caravan site when I glimpsed a black shape passing high overhead. Half mini dragon, half pterodactyl, its oddness brought me to a halt. This was no gull. It could only be a cormorant. A new species in the area! I ran after it through the caravan site, deserted at this time of year, and arrived at the lily pond just as the cormorant was landing in the water. Once a coastal species, these goose-sized birds are now spreading inland. Had this one been blown here on the wind and taken a liking to the