Snake Bird and a couple more

[NorthernFocus]

The Anhinga aka Snake Bird aka Water Turkey aka Darter is another species that I never gave a second look when living here in my youth. According to what I could find on line anhinga is a native Brazilian name which means snake bird. As shown in the first image below when swimming the entire body is below the surface with the long neck held up very similar to the manner in which snakes swim. However, in addition to the snake like look while swimming, when this bird saw me while it was in a bush it began to posture by expanding its neck and swerving back and forth much like a snake being "charmed" by a handler. This one is an adult female.

1) Swimming



2) Posturing. Note the shape of the neck.



Just a couple more photos taken yesterday in the same area where I found the anhinga.

3) Common Gallinule. Those who decide such things claim this is a different bird than the moorhen. Regardless of what it might be, when you see something in water like this you just have to take a shot.



4) The only bird I've run into on this trip which wasn't shy. This one swam right up to me and climbed out on the bank.



5) And just another GBH. I thought the evening light on the distant marsh made for a nice BG.

[JohnRostron]

Your Anhinga pics show nicely the kink in the neck. This is supposedly to facilitate the forward flick of the neck to stab the prey.

I particularly like your portrait of the GBH.

John

[madcrow]

Awesome bird images, clarity, detail, colours and DoF all outstanding. #1 is my favourite.

[Craigie]

What a great series of images Dan, #5 is stunning.

[Geoff F]

They all work very well.

[bnnrcn]

Great set Dan That snake bird is so interesting and the last image is a beauty .

[John 2]

Now that GBH is actually blue. Lovely set Dan. The Anhinga is a new one on me and is facinating. The red and yellow in the Gallinule are almost irridescent.

[Suzan J]

Beautiful colours in the heron image. I am so envious...

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you guys enjoyed the photos. I'm going looking for the anhinga again to see if I can get it in a cleaner position. Here's another version of the GBH.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Cogito]

Do like the heron

[Urbanflyer]

lovely backgrounds on all!

[Mike Buckley]

Bird photography isn't a particularly enjoyable genre for me but the first GBH is nothing short of magical. Great background, detail, color and every detail of the composition!

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the additional comments, folks. Glad you liked the photos. The weather was finally both clear and calm so I nabbed a few flight shots yesterday. Will post a few when I get them culled/processed.

[terrib]

Lovely images, Dan. I especially like the Anhinga. I only have a couple of shots of Anhinga that I like. I have found it difficult to catch them in the open so most are obscured by tree branches. I think they are beautiful birds. Hoping to try again when I get down to the coast in February. Inspirational photography from you, as always.

[mugge]

The last two images are absolute stunners.
Cheers Ole

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, Terri and Ole. Glad you liked the photos.

[bnnrcn]

Another beauty

Glad you guys enjoyed the photos. I'm going looking for the anhinga again to see if I can get it in a cleaner position. Here's another version of the GBH.