Reluctant Lunch

Earlier this afternoon I was watching an anhinga fishing when he suddenly jumped up out of the water and onto a nearby stump with a fish stuck to his bill. The anhinga proceeded to pound and scrape the fish across the stump trying to get it off his bill so that he could gulp it down. The fish, of course, was not at all happy with how his day was shaping up and I strongly suspect he knew it would not end well.

After struggling for a couple of minutes, the anhinga finally swallowed his prize catch. Now that lunch was over the only thing left to do was climb to the top of the stump and triumphantly assume the wing drying pose!

35 thoughts on “Reluctant Lunch”

Victor Rakmil on March 27, 2015 at 5:42 pm said:

Great post!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2015 at 6:45 pm said:
  
  I’m very happy you enjoyed it!
  
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Patrizia M. on March 27, 2015 at 6:10 pm said:

Bellissimo reportage, splendido!!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2015 at 6:45 pm said:
  
  Grazie Pat, sono felice che ti piace le foto!
  
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Bill Barber on March 27, 2015 at 6:49 pm said:

Beautiful shots, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2015 at 8:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Bill, appreciate it!
  
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Scott Marshall on March 27, 2015 at 6:57 pm said:

you consistently blow me away – a week with you and a week with Lyle and I’d understand life beyond landscape and property 🙂 last shot although it is not part of the action sequence is – a cracker (light) – I would love to see atadge more of it’s geography – frightening consistency Phil

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- Phil Lanoue on March 27, 2015 at 7:14 pm said:
  
  It was a mostly grey cloudy day out there today but for one brief instant a little sunlight peaked out and lit the bird a bit nicer for that last shot.
  Thanks very much Scott I appreciate it.
  
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Jim Davis on March 27, 2015 at 9:13 pm said:

Your the bomb Phil, that is some great shooting of a bird that I have yet to get it right on. I always have focus problems when shooting this bird.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:32 pm said:
  
  These guys are not easy for me either, I don’t know if it’s because they are so dark or what.
  Thanks Jim, glad you liked these!
  
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Katrina W on March 27, 2015 at 9:46 pm said:

Super series of shots, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:33 pm said:
  
  I’m very happy you enjoyed seeing the anhinga!
  
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anotherday2paradise on March 27, 2015 at 9:56 pm said:

Great series of photos, Phil. I guess that fish was glad when it was all over. 😳

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:34 pm said:
  
  Yes once again a sad fishie face that knows he’s having a very bad day. Can be a bit tough to watch.
  
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naturesnippets on March 27, 2015 at 10:25 pm said:

I was near Savannah years ago, watching an anhinga sunning on a curved piece of wood over a small channel. Suddenly it dove into the water when an alligator came up after it. I sat there with my mouth open.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:36 pm said:
  
  These birds are more vulnerable to alligator attacks than others. They fish under the water and can get caught up in the action of chasing fish and not realize they are swimming right at a waiting gator. You have to stay alert out there! 😮
  
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  - naturesnippets on March 28, 2015 at 5:52 pm said:
    
    I live in southern Illinois, so the most I have to worry about are poisonous snakes and seed ticks
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:29 pm said:
      
      Ewww… I don’t like ticks at all. We get them here and they freak me out. Alligators I’m ok with though. 😀
      
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Linda on March 28, 2015 at 8:54 am said:

Beautiful shots, His wings look like silver wings, I never saw a bird like him, and I like his lunch, he eats very healthy…..again, thank you for this beautiful series..

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Linda! When the sun hits their wings just right they do look like silver.
  
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foxleylady on March 28, 2015 at 10:34 am said:

Thea will be here tomorrow – one for her, I think!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:38 pm said:
  
  Oh yeah this will be right up her alley. “But it’s nature.” I can hear it now. 🙂
  
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Pat on March 28, 2015 at 4:27 pm said:

Fantastic captures.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 28, 2015 at 5:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Pat!
  
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Rolling Harbour on March 28, 2015 at 8:34 pm said:

Spectacular sequence! RH

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- Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:24 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch!
  
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Lyle Krahn on March 29, 2015 at 12:29 am said:

I really like the action and what a wonderful composition.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:25 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked these anhinga shots. I was actually walking away to go look at an osprey that was flying around when I happened to turn back around and this guy popped up with his fish.
  
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Raewyn's Photos on March 29, 2015 at 1:18 am said:

Great captures. Love the expression on the fish’s face. And the wings in that last shot are just amazing.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:26 pm said:
  
  Their wings do light up nicely if the sun hits them right. Thanks!
  
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Jean-Paul on March 29, 2015 at 4:50 am said:

wonderful pic ♥

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- Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:26 pm said:
  
  Glad you like it! 😀
  
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Birder's Journey on March 29, 2015 at 10:02 pm said:

Fun story 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on April 2, 2015 at 7:27 pm said:
  
  I almost missed this too. I had given up on this guy and was walking away and happened to turn back and look and that’s when I saw him with is fish.
  
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Angela on May 21, 2015 at 4:20 am said:

fishy looks like he’s screaming, I wonder if he was all the way down.

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