Spear Fishing
Yesterday evening I was watching an anhinga out fishing in the marsh pond. The anhinga is a water bird that fishes by swimming under water and spearing a fish on the end of it’s sharp bill. To swallow the fish, the anhinga will often flip it into the air and then catch it headfirst down. This bird was having a very successful evening…catching several fish for a tasty dinner. Just watching this amazing bird in action is a real treat and photographing them can be quite a challenge!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Whowwh, who knows what tastes, he is a connoisseur.
Fantastic photos dear Phil 😉
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He sure loves his fresh fish!
Danke Tilda!
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Wow, a beak like chopsticks. I knew that I’m missing something! ☺
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Well the chopsticks work great for the bird, not too sure about us. 😀
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Your photos are amazing!
Well done!
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Thanks for the kind comments Hans!
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Good catch for Phil and Cormy.
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Thanks Mike, but it’s an anhinga. Similar to the cormorant in that they are both water birds but the anhinga is the spear fishing specialist of the two. 🙂
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It’s a brilliant set of photos, a good catch indeed. For both of you! 🙂
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I’m very happy you like these, thanks!
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You and the bird make catching fish look easy!
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The amazing thing is that even when these birds flip the fish up in the air they rarely loose one. I have seen it, but not often. They are experts at fishing and I just try my best to get shots of them doing it. 🙂
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You are both very successful in your pursuits!!
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He has better timing then I do though. 😕 🙂
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Well his life depends on it! 🙂
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Amazing Phil, the second photo is fantastic.
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Thanks Jan, that second shot is what I try to get when photographing these guys.
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Great teamwork with you and the bird to pull that off.
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The problem is that he fails to take direction very well. I tell him…swim in closer, don’t turn away from me, catch bigger fish, etc. but do you think he listens? He does not.
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Hmmm might be time for a new marsh!
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With the amount of tourists in for the holiday weekend you would be correct about that.
I missed shots I really wanted again yesterday because someone felt compelled to talk shop to me about camera gear. 😦
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He’s showing off for you!
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The thing is that these birds are *very* quick. I don’t get much time to hopefully get a shot. 🙂
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Just like sports photojournalism!
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Yes, my wife calls it “bird sports” 😀
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She’s got it right on the nose!
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🙂
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Looks to me like you both (especially you) met the challenge. Remarkable as ever.
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I have to be fast because the fish does not last long, it’s flipped and swallowed in an instant.
Thanks for checking these out.
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I don’t know how you can say photographing this is such a challenge as you do it so perfectly! BTW, yep..camera focus mechanism is on the fritz again. Definitely got a lemon. I’ve had to repair it so many times!!
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I try my best with these guys but they are so quick they don’t make it easy.
Sorry to hear of your continuing camera problems, hope you can get it worked out. I currently have my 28-70 2.8 in for repair and they have had it for over three weeks now. 😦
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Super sequence, Phil. What seems amazing to us is natural to these spear fishing birds and a matter of survival as well. And they don’t have things like cell phone bills and politics to muddy up their concentration.
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If they don’t catch fish they don’t live. They can’t stop at McDonalds on the way home for a quick snack if they are hungry. It’s always interesting to me how varied the techniques are of the different species for feeding. They all seem to be perfectly suited for their particular style, but I guess they don’t have much choice.
Thanks for looking and commenting Steve.
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The beauty of natural selection. 🙂
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Beautiful captures of this beautiful bird!
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Thanks Molly they are my favorite bird action to watch and photograph.
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beautiful captures… love the sequence 🙂
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I appreciate the kind words, thanks.
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Amazing!
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Glad you like them!
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Nice detail on that flip!
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They are experts at the ‘fish flip’ 🙂
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I would say you and the bird were very successful!
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Thanks much I appreciate it!
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Nice catch all around.
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Thanks for checking out these pics. 🙂
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Great sushi pics, Phil. 🙂
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That’s as fresh as it gets Sylvia. 😀
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The photos are amazing, with such precise focusing and beautiful details. I love the fact that both visible eyes are in focus in the last photo, though obviously the two do not see eye to eye.
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Well it’s a good day for the bird but a very bad day for all the fish it catches, but so it goes in nature.
Thanks for looking and commenting Mike.
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Such fascinating pictures, Phil! Part of me feels sorry for the fish, while admiring the incredible accuracy of the Anhinga!
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Yes those fish are not having a very good day at all. The anhinga is quite skilled at what he does which means bad news for the fish population.
Glad you like the pics Maggie!
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Excellent action shots 🙂
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Thanks much I appreciate it. 🙂
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I’d never seen one this close up before Phil so cheers for that
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I’m very happy you enjoyed seeing the close up action.
Many more photos of these amazing birds can be seen here:
https://phillanoue.com/anhingas/
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Just AMAZING shots, especially the one with the fish in the air! WOW!
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Well I’m very happy you like these, thanks!
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Who is the best one I can’t decide, this guy with the fish or photographer who captured the moments… 🙂
Thanks and Love, nia
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Thank you very much for your kind comments Nia!
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Wow! The fish looks startled and a somewhat sad – unsurprisingly I guess… 😀
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Yes, not a good day for poor Mr. Fish. 😦
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