Anhingas in breeding plumage are quite striking. Those bright green eye-rings can be seen from a surprising distance. Which is good for these shots. They were taken at the maximum reach of the equipment I had with me…full zoom on the Canon SD100HS behind the 30x eyepiece on the DiaScope 65FL for an equivalent focal length of 3420mm. Even so I cropped away some of the image to increase the relative size of the birds. The Anhingas, He and She, were across at least 100 yards of water, nesting at the edge of what I call the Alligator Island, nearly all the way around the main tour loop at Viera Wetlands in Melbourne Florida. That is 100 yards of simmery, moisture laden, swampy Florida air. Might as well be shooting though moving water. So I am actually pretty happy with these.

I almost did not attempt them, as I knew it was pushing the limits, but I am glad I did, for I no more than got set up when He-Anhinga decided to get frisky with She-Anhinga…hence the R rating on the post.

She-Anhinga does not, by human standards, look all that happy about it. Do you suppose that head grip the male has on her is what passes for affection between Anhingas? She looks a bit more satisfied (and comfortable) after the fact.

All shots with the set-up detailed above. First and last image at 1/320th @ ISO 200. The rest at 1/500th @ ISO 200. Sequence selected out of burst shot at 3-4 fps (there are intermediate shots I did not post). Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation. Processed, including cropping, in Lightroom.