Resourseful Anhinga
This morning started out with heavy rain but during a break between showers, we decided to go check out the marsh and see if anything was happening. There were quite a few alligators out swimming around which we expected. They always seem to like coming out after a rain for a swim in the nice fresh water. We also saw several anhingas flying around and I hoped one or two might drop in for some morning fishing which can be exciting and entertaining. The anhingas wisely prefer to pick out a spot in the pond to fish that is free of gators. I know just the corner that they like and sure enough one hopped in to start fishing. We saw it catch a few fish, including this one, so it was a successful morning for the resourceful anhinga!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Fantastic Phil!
Thanks a million Edith!
This anhinga reminds me of a turkey, seeing its feathers under the water. Great shots! And, I don’t think this was in my reader – FYI.
I take that back. Just came into my WP reader! 🙂
Ok great, good to know that things just might be back to normal.
Good eye to spot that, another name for the anhinga is turkey bird (or something like that).
Thanks for checking out these pics!
Well, looky there! I ‘knew’ something about nature and didn’t even know it…!
Oh absolutely. But here’s the good part…some day (it will happen) you will be out with friends at maybe a park or seashore area and this crazy looking bird with a long neck and fanned out tail feathers will pop up out of the water with a fish. All your friends will ask…’what the heck is that thing?!’ Only they won’t say “heck”.
And you will casually reply (with a look on your face like Duh, doesn’t everybody know that?) ‘Oh that’s an anhinga, otherwise known as a water turkey.’ And your friends will blink at you with amazement like you just won Jeopardy for the third straight night.
Oh you are SO spot on with that scenario! I can’t wait for it to happen. So much so that I will now be stalking an anhinga to look Jeopardy smart in front of friends!
Very cool shots. Now you see fish…now you don’t!
Thanks, yes the fish goes down quick!
Beautiful shots Phil. In a class of your own!
I really appreciate your very kind comments Adrian!
So great to see the anhinga in action, Phil. Marvellous shots. He’s a great fisherman. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed these photos Sylvia! This one was quite good at catching fish, it helped there were no alligators in the immediate area to make the bird nervous.
What a graceful neck in the first shot. Great series. Love those red eyes!
They are cool looking birds aren’t they? And fun to watch too!
Love the underwater “turkey” feathers. Great photo – are these birds related to egrets or herons? They look like they could be cousins
That’s why I was happy to get kind of straight on shots of this one, so that the tail feathers were visible behind it.
The anhinga would be more closely related to a cormorant as they have similar fishing styles and are both water birds that need to dry off after fishing.
But the anhinga is technically in a bird family all it’s own.
Well this is a first for me…I have never see an anhinga. The pink tones under its beak…beautiful. I have a feeling I will learn alot more in the future on this blog concerning wildlife my friend.
I am glad I was able to present a first for you! Also glad you enjoyed these photos.
For many more anhinga photos feel free to check out my anhinga gallery here:
https://phillanoue.com/anhingas/
And their category of blog posts, with different photos here:
https://phillanoue.com/category/anhingas/
Super action shots Phil, excellent job.
Thanks much Jan, I appreciate it!
Down the hatch. Well caught indeed! I was surprised at the half submerged feathers and body. Not quite floating, only half sinking?
Yes that fish went down quite nicely although earlier it caught a fish that got stuck in it’s throat for a while. Looked very uncomfortable to say the least. I think that fish went down sideways rather then head first.
They fish by swimming completely under the water, but when they come up with a fish you can see those tail feathers fan out.
I think it is cool too seeing those tail feathers spread out behind the bird!!
Thanks I thought so too, that’s why I was happy to get these straight on shots where you can really see how those tail feathers fan out.
I like the way you can see his feathers through the water. You don’t see that often. Nice catch!
Thank you, yes I was glad it surfaced with the fish facing me like that so I could see it’s tail feathers fanned out. So often I see shots of anhingas and cormorants showing only the backs of their heads since they face away from me mostly.
The wings and feathers showing through in the water made the photos so special. Very cool!
Thank you Amy I am happy you enjoyed that aspect of these photos, I like that too! 🙂
Stunning !
Another series of fantastic shots , Phil !
Congrats !
utham
Thanks very much for the kind words utham I appreciate it!
I like that front view.
Yeah I like that too, so often they come up facing away from me and I get only back of head shots.
I love the way you have caught the plumage below the surface – great pictures, as usual!
Thanks so much for checking out these photos Maggie and I’m happy you enjoyed seeing the anhinga!
Sorry, meant to add – that gives it a new dimention, love it!
Those necks expand! Great sequence of images. Pays to be at the right place and time. Knowing it like you do is the way to photograph. I always love your bird photos.
It never fails to amaze me how some of these birds that look like they have such skinny necks can get down fish so quickly.
Thanks a bunch for your very kind comments and I’m glad you enjoy the bird photos!
Well, now I know what I’ve been missing!! These are amazing! And who the heck (only I didn’t say ‘heck’ in my head) knew about water turkeys???
Heh heh 😆 Well I’m thrilled you enjoyed the ‘heck’ out of these photos! 😀
And yeah, water turkeys, who knew?!? 😯
I love the bird’s feathers fanning out just under the water’s surface behind where the action is taking place! Great shots, Phil.
Thanks a million Deb, so glad you enjoyed these!
What should I say? Fantastic pics. 🙂
Well that is very nice of you to say, thanks!
I’d go fishing with him
These guys are unreal, I was watching more this morning and continue to be impressed by their skill.
Amazing to see the feathers spread out under the water. Great shots.
They are amazing birds Lucy! Thanks for looking!
Wow, those are fantastic photos!
Hey thanks! Glad you like them!
No escape for the fish now.