His feathers still well separated from being wet, this Anhinga must have just climbed out of the pond.
From a little further down the path, the tree reflections, pond surface, and light were quite different.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 25, 2023
With their long tail Anhinga are more suited to branch or dock sitting, I don’t often see one standing on the ground.
I wasn’t going to see this one for long, either.
Ready…
Set…
Liftoff!
Feet tucked in…
And away she went…
Ashley River Park, Summerville, SC
August 1, 2023
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 25, 2023
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023
With an audience of an Alligator and me, this Anhinga seemed to have something to say.
Magnolia Plantation & Garden, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023
Most of the bigger birds I’ve watched nesting gather sticks off the ground or take easily snapped dead limbs for their nesting materials.
Anhingas prefer live branches.
It may have something to do with their feet and ability to land in live trees.
This fellow wasn’t having much luck and dropped at least one branch in the water below.
He made an empty trip back to the nest but pretty quickly returned to try again.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023
A female, or possibly immature male, Anhinga was perched atop a gnarly dead tree branch above my head.
She sat there for quite awhile, just looking around. We were back at St. Augustine this past week and many of these dead and dying trees have been cut down. They are being replaced, three huge palm trees were being installed while we were there.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
While I was walking down the dike the Anhinga on an Old Wharf Piling went for a swim. Just as I came back he was drying off.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
September 12, 2022
These three pilings are used frequently by a variety of birds at Magnolia Plantation’s boat pond, including this Anhinga, drying off in the sun.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
September 12, 2022
This Oak Tree was nearly bare, giving me a good view of a Female Anhinga and a bit of color from the few remaining leaves.
Can you do this with your neck?
Easy stuff for the very flexible Anhinga.
