Afternoon Spear Fishing

Earlier today I was watching this anhinga plucking small fish out of the marsh pond. The anhinga is a water bird that fishes by swimming under water and spearing fish on the end of it’s very sharp bill. This guy caught three or four of these fish before hopping out to dry off his wings.

25 thoughts on “Afternoon Spear Fishing”

Garden Walk Garden Talk on March 27, 2014 at 7:30 pm said:

Very nice captures Phil. It is great the marsh is providing. Fishing up here has been tough on water birds because of ice. The small minnows and shinners hide under the ice near shore.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2014 at 7:40 pm said:
  
  I have not seen any birds like ospreys plucking big fish out of the marsh pond area, I’m wondering if the cold winter we had cut down on the fish population and it’s mostly only the smaller and new hatches left now.
  
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Lyle Krahn on March 27, 2014 at 10:18 pm said:

I like the colour of the beak and the fish contrasting everything else. What’s the next step in eating the fish?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2014 at 10:45 pm said:
  
  That was a surprisingly colorful fish! These are the birds that flip the fish in mid air to swallow it head first on the way down. In ths case the anhinga did its job but I missed it because I went OOF just at the key moment. I am the worst.
  
  Hey I might have a flower shot for you tomorrow!
  
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janmasyn on March 28, 2014 at 3:46 am said:

Great shots, very detailled.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 7:45 am said:
  
  Thanks Jan.
  
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George Weaver on March 28, 2014 at 4:43 am said:

Fantastic!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 7:46 am said:
  
  Glad you liked them George!
  
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foxleylady on March 28, 2014 at 7:07 am said:

Poor fish but great pictures!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 7:47 am said:
  
  Not a good day at all for our poor fishie friend.
  
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edithlevyphotography on March 28, 2014 at 8:42 am said:

Wow these are fantastic captures Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 4:48 pm said:
  
  Thanks I appreciate that very much Edith!
  
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The Dancing Rider on March 28, 2014 at 9:33 am said:

I guess he doesn’t have to learn how to use chopsticks! Wonderful closeups, and the anhinga is so pretty. So is the little fish . 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 4:50 pm said:
  
  He has some very excellent built in chopsticks! They look like a wet cat when they first emerge from the water but then dry out all nice and fluffy. 🙂
  
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Patrizia M. on March 28, 2014 at 10:23 am said:

Non ho parole, sono troppo belli questi scatti. Wowwwwwwwww e doppio wowwwwwwwwwwww!!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 4:51 pm said:
  
  Sono così contento che ti piaccia queste foto Pat!
  
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Rolling Harbour on March 28, 2014 at 1:27 pm said:

Those are great pics – I had no idea that Anhingas spearfished liked that. Very graphic! RH

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2014 at 4:48 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much! The anhinga is my favorite bird action to watch and photograph!
  Here’s another graphic one:
  https://phillanoue.com/anhingas/#jp-carousel-562
  
  And see many more anhinga photos of mine here:
  https://phillanoue.com/anhingas/
  
  And here:
  https://phillanoue.com/category/anhingas/
  
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Paula on March 29, 2014 at 7:59 am said:

Wow! That’s some skill!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2014 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  These guys are the absolute best at what they do!
  
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anotherday2paradise on March 29, 2014 at 8:28 am said:

Great pics, Phil, but you know what I’m thinking, don’t you? 😕

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2014 at 5:00 pm said:
  
  Oooo yes I sure do Sylvia, especially in that second photo! 😥
  
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  - anotherday2paradise on March 30, 2014 at 1:11 am said:
    
    😦 😦
    
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RobynG on March 29, 2014 at 9:31 am said:

Awesome Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2014 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Robyn!
  
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