Anhingas often climb into trees with branches that hang over the pond for drying off. I’ve more frequently seen them down close to the water but this one was over my head giving an interesting view of his very long body.
From this view you can the sharpness of the beak, clearly adapted to spearing fish.
They are often vocal, making a low croaking sound, likened to a frog with a soar throat by Cornell’s All About Birds.
Usually Anhinga eat the fish they catch while they are swimming, often executing some intricate fish flipping maneuvers to get the fish in position to swallow head first. Occasionally, I have seen them get out of the water and beat the fish for awhile, although I’m not sure why. The fish looks dead with that sharp beak speared through it. Sometimes it appears the fish is stuck and at this time of year they may be on their way to the nest with it. No matter the reason, it is an activity that comes with risk.
This Anhinga swam thirty or forty feet to reach an alligator platform, then flapped and pulled himself out of the water.
Wack, wack, wack the fish.
Toss it into position.
Over the side it went, never to be seen by this bird again.
Anhingas fish by swimming underwater and spearing their prey. They then need to air dry and are often seen with their wings fully spread. This one must have young to feed as he bypassed the usual process.
After he pulled himself out of the water, he took very little time to dry. He held the fish in his beak and worked his way up the stick.
Once airborne he had to really work it to get to the island about 50 feet (16 meters) away. I wasn’t sure he was going to make it; twice his wings dipped into the water.
He did make it, and disappeared into the island underbrush with his catch.
I heard the “tat tat tat” over my head and finally spotted a Downy Woodpecker on the underside of a branch just above me, industriously pecking away.
He spiraled around the limb, tatting as he went.
Finished inspecting that branch, he moved into a tree that has leafed out and quickly disappeared into the greenery.
At least I think it is a Boat-tailed Grackle, not a Common Grackle. This is another pair of birds that All About Birds uses a size comparison to help tell them part. Useful if you see them together, not so much on their own. They did seem to have a big tail.
These images were taken at the pond near the rookery and swamp I frequent. A group of 8 or 10 was working its way along the edge, hopping along limbs that have fallen in the water.
Both kinds are noisy, with constant calling, like their Red-winged Black bird relative. It was the iridescence that attracted me, and their repeated trips to the water. They will eat frogs, lizards, and turtles and did poke around a little in this water that has all of these but it was a bit deep for them to jump in.
Ted and I returned to Florida for five days at the end of February and went to most of the same places I photographed in late January. On my first trip I heard Sandhill Cranes calling at Vierra Wetlands but never saw them. I was delighted to see a pair on the second trip.
When we first saw the pair they were calling repeatedly and appeared to be looking for something. Unfortunately there was nothing nearby to include in the image to indicate their size. Sandhill Cranes are larger than Great Blue Herons, and can weight up to 10 pounds (4.75 KG). Great Blues top out at 5.5 pounds (2.5 KG).
We looped around the wildlife drive and about an hour later found them in about the same spot. They had stopped calling and their attention had turned to preening.
Click on any image for larger view.
Vierra Wetlands, Florida, 2/21/18.
Looking for something to eat in the crevices of this dead branch this Red-bellied Woodpecker kept trying, but I didn’t see him find anything.
Upside down didn’t work so he flipped upright.
He paused for a nice profile shot.
Scouting out his next spot, he was gone in a flash.
Click on any photo for larger view.
Secret, secret, who’s got a secret?
Let me show you.
Now it’s gone.
Made me laugh!
Click on any photo for larger view.
A small group of various ducks and American Coots, about fifty or so, was gathered near the edge of the Black Point Wildlife Drive. They didn’t pay much attention to the birders and photographers that stopped to have a look on this morning.
This Northern Pintail pair found each other in the group…
…then went about their business.
Some of the pairs took off as others landed, a constant changing of the group throughout the morning.
This is the closest I’ve seen a Pintail and was delighted to see how gorgeous they are.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 01/28/2018.
He’s all lined up:
Landing gear extended:
A gentle splash:
Another successful landing of the pelican express.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
