Anhinga, anhingha
The Anhinga is one of the few birds whose common name and scientific name are the same. Not only that but its genus and species are the same, Anhinga anhinga. It might be thought of as the bird’s first and last name.
With that in mind… here are two anhingas fishing this morning. The anhinga hunts by swimming under water and spearing a fish on the end of it’s sharp bill. It then must get the fish off it’s bill to eat it, so the anhinga does that by flipping the fish up into the air for a head first swallow.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
These are brilliant action shots, Phil! What a clever bird!
It is some of my all time favorite bird action to see and photograph! Thanks Maggie!
Great post. And as always, your photos are incredible!
I appreciate you looking and commenting, thanks!
This is an absolutely amazing series of photos. Your sports photography skills are especially evident. I have been doing the Tuesday morning alligator tours at Huntington and i make sure I give everyone your blog information. Just spectacular work! Glad you’re feeling better. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words and tell those alligators to stay off the road! 😉
And they gobble the whole thing with glee!! I can’t even do that successfully with my popcorn *sigh*. Thank you for making them such a joy to behold.
I’ve tried this method with using M&Ms with moderate success. These guys are the real experts!
Love those red eyes with blue around them. It looks like she’s ready for a mate. Nice details!
We have a few like that here now. There have to be six of seven nests but they are back in the swamp which is just as well. That way people can’t bother them.
Che scatti fantastici fai caro Phil, sei incredibilmente bravo. Applausi 🙂
Ciao, Pat
Grazie per le tue parole molto gentili e sono felice ti è piaciuto queste foto!
Captured perfectly to illustrate Anhinga anhinga’s habits. That is really something! All focus is on that snack — those beautiful eyes! 🙂
These guys would make sports superstars! They are really quite expert at what they do and that makes them fun to watch!
Perfect action captured again! I seem to recall you promising to show photos of you doing the same thing with candy but they haven’t seem to have appeared yet.
You must have missed my candy popping post, I’m pretty sure I put that one up. Humm… maybe it was accidentally deleted. I shall initiate a full investigation immediately.
Glad you liked the anhinga show!
I had the same recollection as Lyle. Phil tossing a few M&M’s in the air and showing us just how easy this is…down the hatch. 🙂
I don’t know how all you guys could have possibly missed that and I also can’t figure out where it went. Must be a WordPress glitch. I’m pretty expert at M&M tossing but have yet to get the head first fish toss down. The anhinga still rules that world!
Super great action shots, Phil! Nice work!
Thanks for checking these out Gareth and glad you liked them!
I’m in line to see those M&M shots, too. But the Anhinga-Anhinga will do for now. 🙄
I had HD video of that candy show up, how did everyone miss it?!? 🙂 oh well guess the anhinga will have to do for now.
🙄
All this talk about candy is making me hungry. 🙂
Awesome series, Phil! Incredible!
I appreciate it Amy, thanks!
Great Shots, you do beautiful work, and, as always get these beautiful creatures just at the right moment. Your photography is amazing, and so are all the animals, birds, this bird has the most amazing eyes, and love these shots of him trying to get that fish, wow, you have to be really on your toes to get those.
Well I greatly appreciate your very kind comments, thank you! Anhingas fishing is one of my all time favorite, and most challenging bird actions to photograph.
Oh, what a way to go! 😯 That poor fishie had a very exciting end. Great captures, Phil. Thanks for sharing this, I think. 😕
Well you know how it goes in fishie world Sylvia… it’s not always a nice, pleasant day. Glad you (sort of) enjoyed these pics! 🙂
Fabulous pics. RH
Thanks much.
Great pics!