The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae having a single genus Anhinga. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to signify their long thin neck, which has a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged, or when mated pairs twist it during their bonding displays.
In the end of December 2012, I procured my treasured Nikon Nikkor 200-400 mm f/4 lens and 1.7x Converter and took it for a our of Gujarat with me in first week of Jan, 2013. I was not yet used to its heavy weight and was not carrying my trusted Tripod or beanbag with me (as was on a family holiday) but still managed to get some beautiful pictures at Gujarat.
After coming back from Gujarat, got busy with work, office and so many things. But I decided to take this lens out again for a shoot on 25th Jan, 2013 at my favourite place - Bharatpur bird sanctuary at Rajasthan, India.
Bharatpur at that time was buzzing with so much activity by our feathered friends and when I started using my new lens, It was almost a new world unfolding before me. The difference was not much evident in the view finder as earlier I was using a Nikon 80-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 VR, but with the new lens, the quickness of auto focus and sharpness was remarkable. I almost went overboard clicking so many pix that day and exhausting my two 32 GB memory cards. Walked almost 11 km with my camera, lens, tele-converter mounted on a tripod on my shoulder. Sardar Pritam SInghji, was with me as usual carrying my bag & other stuff on his rickshaw. When he saw my lens in the morning he was almost as glad on my new possession as me.
Near the main pond in front of Keoladev Temple, I was clicking some Rosy Pelicans when this Darter aka Snakebird landed on a shrub near where I was standing and it started looking out for other birds encroaching its territory. Pritam SIngh ji pointed this bird to me and I simply turned My camera and took just one shot and as a result I got one of my favourite close-ups of a bird.
The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae having a single genus Anhinga. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to signify their long thin neck, which has a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged, or when mated pairs twist it during their bonding displays. "Darter" is used with a geographical term when referring to particular species. It alludes to their manner of procuring food, as they impale fishes with their thin, pointed beak like a harpoon or a spear.
It is really delightful to watch these birds fishing and swimming stealthily with just their necks out of water and after having a full meal, sitting in sun with their wings spread for drying and basking in the sun.
UNCROPPED PICTURE.
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