That anhinga looks so soft! I read once upon a time they air themselves out after a catch because they don't have the oil in their feathers to make them water-proof like other water birds. Am I remembering right?
Yes, you are. They can still fly when wet but with great difficulty and only for short distances. With their wings spread, they dry out fairly quickly, within a few minutes or so. They're great to photograph, as they don't spook easily and have a lot of personality.
He's a cormorant, right? The anhingas have white heads?
From a distance they appear similar, but the cormorant (double-crested) sports different coloring, a hooked beak and narrower tail. I posted an image of a juvenile
here recently and will look for a photo of an adult to share that better shows their differences.
And if someone copied you, they'd have a....
Trout Mask Replica.
Oh, man. That's right up my alley!
Can I have a high res copy of this photo, SK?
Yes, of course. I'll send it right over.
I've always thought anhingas were just black, but the shade of blue you've captured...combined with the yellow and green beak, and red eye...it's just stunning.
It's interesting how the males appear blue-black in certain conditions; at other times they show dark green mixed in as well. Of course lighting and the reflection from their surroundings blend with their natural coloring to help change their true appearance.
Thank you. I must have several hundred photos of anhingas, but those last two I posted are my new favorites.
...I was standing on my porch this morning waiting for the dog to do his business and a hummingbird swooped down in front of me and hovered above some lavender I have in planters on poles. He stayed there for probably close to a minute, so close to my face that my eyes crossed.
I'll admit that it frightened me a little, which I know is silly. I think I prefer just to see them in pictures.
Waits patiently for kayleamay to post pictures of the encounter...