Darter on a branch
The power went out in our office today, twice in quick succession and
the so while it was out I figured I'd go for a walk. On the return trip
I saw this fairly large Darter drying himself off on a
mangrove branch.
Name: Darter
Also known as: Australian Darter, Snakebird
Scientific Name: Anhinga Melanogaster
Identification: Length 90cm. Greyish-brown to blackish with long, thin, kinked neck; large rounded tail and thin rapier-like beak. Pale streaky pattern on wings.
Male: Blackish with pale stripe on cheek and neck; chestnut patch on throat and neck.
Female: greyish above, whitish throat and dark-edged facial stripe.
Habitat and range: Saltwater and freshwater wetlands including estuaries, lakes and rivers. Found in most of mainland Australia except the arid centre.
Source: Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. (A Queensland Museum Publication).
ISBN: 0 7242 6447 7.
See where this picture was taken.
View all photos taken: Wednesday, 13th September 2006, This photo: 1:52pm
what a beautiful bird!! great capture, David!!
Thanks Maria, it was a lucky that I saw him, just caught some movement out of the corner of my eye and turned to see him sitting there in the sun.
That's a beautiful capture, David.
I think I prefer it to the other shot, somehow, even though it is posing with its wings in the other one.
I think it's the out of focus foreground elements that lend tend to draw the eye to the bird and thus improve the shot. I like this one better than the other one too.