The Elegant Mr Darter...

[khiemtran]

There's been a darter hanging around near the lagoon this week. I finally managed to catch it when I had my DSLR with me, although the light wasn't the best...



As you can see, they look very similar to cormorants, with short legs and a long neck. Unlike cormorants, their beak ends in a dagger-like point. Although the bird itself doesn't look particularly rapid, that beak can shoot out at amazing speed.



Though ungainly on land, they are excellent swimmers.



And it's not hard to see how they got their other name - "snake birds"...

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Its wings are really cool! I like the different feather lengths.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Darters seem to be very fashion forward, but they're also just a little bit snooty. This one was quite to drive away some less finely groomed wood ducks before it waddled into the water with its beak still in the air.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

"Snooty" perfectly sums up its posture.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

When he's in the water, he looks like he's posing as the Loch Ness Monster--elegantly, of course.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Style seems to matter greatly to darters...