I had excellent looks this morning at a female-type Anhinga (sexes
are similar until the third winter) at Lilypons Water Gardens. I
first saw the bird when it flew up into one of the trees
(presumably from the water) that line the large impoundment that
is to the right as you enter, and in back of several Quonset hut
shaped white structures that I presume are greenhouses (this is
also the impoundment behind the rusty bicycle if you know where
that is). It then flew further away from the impoundment to the
top of one of the largest trees in the area, displaying the
unmistakable and unique flight shape of long, thin slightly kinked
neck, almost equally long tail, relatively short wings, and long
pointed bill. It had limited white on the back, indicating it was
not a full adult. I've seen hundreds in Florida, but this is the
first time I have seen one further north.
I was visiting the area after Gemma Radko's Montgomery Bird Club
Little Bennett trip was cut short due to rain. I thought
waterbirds might still be about despite the rain, and I guess I
lucked out. Other birds of interest were a singing Prothonotary
Warbler (which is what I was trying to get a look at when the
Anhinga surprised me), and another birder, who unfortunately had
left by the time I sighted the Anhinga, reported a Sora, Solitary
Sandpiper, and Greater Yellowlegs.
Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland |