These pictures are of a male Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) taken in its classic drying / thermoregulation posture.
This bird was making the most of the evening sunshine on Yellow Waters, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.
The dark front of this bird identifies it as a male bird. You can see from the close-up of the head why they are sometimes called Snake-Birds when they swim through the water with only their neck and head exposed.
I always find birds like this - cormorants and shags etc - to be convincingly reptilian.
They do indeed recall their reptilian ancestry, Stewart, as does your Prime Minister and the current occupant of the White House, but making such comparisons perhaps casts reptiles in an unfair light.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful wing drying poses!
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThere is something...prayerful... about this pose. That shots with the tail do lend the mind to thoughts of critters other than birds! YAM xx
Reptilian indeed...Great photographs..Handsome bird!! thanks for sharing..Missy
ReplyDeleteIt is so like our double crested and great cormorants. Fascinating how they evolved around the world.
ReplyDeleteyes I agree they are very snake like in the water and these are excellent photographs Stewart. Thanks for hosting, stay safe and have a good week ahead.
ReplyDeleteAnhinga, Cormorant, Darter: cousins?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteStay safe you too. All the best!
Great photos Stewart. Cormorants are becoming more common here.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I like to way you caught the sunlight highlighting the back, detailing each feather!
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, beautiful photos, it is almost the same as our Phalacrocorax carbo. Greetings Caroline
ReplyDeleteThe similar Anhinga occupies our backyard lake. It is a female-- they have brown necks while male is all black, somewhat like your species. At breeding time they develop green "goggles" around their eyes and the male sprouts white feathers or plumes on his head.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting photos. Even geese look reptilian at times.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the Darter, so snake like. Hope all is well and that you are keeping safe, Diane
ReplyDeleteHello steward
ReplyDeleteyou and the bird had a deal right?
the way he poses for you!
or he noticed that it is his chance to become a star on the internet ...
very beautiful pictures
Greetings Frank