A Visiting Anhinga...

Anhinga:Common in fresh-water, swamps, ponds, and lakes where it spears fish.  Often swims with only head and neck exposed.  Long straight bill, long tail and white wing and back plumes differentiate it from cormorants.  usually seen singly but may soar very high in flocks. 28" long wing span 47".

I never cease to be amazed at the diverse abundance of wildlife in our backyard!  We are blessed with our own wild managerie with everything from Coyote's to Otters!  And everything in between-ha!

Yesterday, we had an Anhinga settle in on the bank to dry his wings.  He had been diving, spearing fish and eating them.  Anhinga do not have oil on their wings as other diving duck and waterfowl have so they must take breaks to dry their enormous wings so they do not get waterlogged.

The Arrival.

The move to the table.

The next move was to the back of the Adirondack chair.

A little preening here and there never hurts while you are drying out and looking at the water.

He appeared sleepy at times and even tucked his head in his wing...

I was amazed at how he curled his webbed feet around the top of the chair to grip and balance.

 

Spreading his wings to dry! and those amazing gripping feet!

The sun set and still he stayed on--altogether he must have been there for 3 or more hours.  I finally went outside and walked right up to him, what did I have to lose?  I used the flash and he stayed right there until he was ready to leave.  What an adventure!

Master of his world...

Still drying his wings.  I have seen them in groups at dark on the larger lake in our community huddled on the banks for the night.

    He was not the least bothered by my presence, no fear.  I thought when I used the flash he would be gone in a flash-ha!  But no, he posed!

   I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I did!  I never know until I download them to the computer if I have a good one or not.  I just snap away and hope!

Thanks for coming, have a wonderful day!

♥KERRIE♥

My heart to yours...

Robins, Anhinga, Egret

The Anhinga came to visit on the little lake bank as he sat fishing in the sun.  Unlike other fowl, Anhinga's do not have oily feathers so they must rest between diving for fish to dry their wings.  Sometimes they sit in the sun for several minutes with their wings spread to dry.  Hubby got these pictures before he got too wet.

Then the Robin came to take a bath...



Last, the Egret came walking along the bank, also fishing.  He is so pretty and white in the sunshine.

I hope you enjoy seeing the wildlife that frequents our backyard, our little bit of heaven.  Hubby just finished making a place for sitting that is level on the bank today.  We are going to buy some molded plastic Adirondack chairs to put on it tomorrow.  The bench needs repairs and then will be somewhere else in the yard.

Bill and helper

Thank you for visiting and come back soon!!

♥KERRIE♥

My heart to yours....