African Darter

A neat species, seen at the Avis Dam outside Windhoek, Namibia, on our very last afternoon in the country. This is an interesting species, they have little oil in their feathers, so the feathers totally soak when they enter the water. This allows them to swim underwater more easily because they don't have to be fighting the pull of the air that would be caught in the feathers. However, it means that after they hunt they have to stay out in the sun and hold their wings up for long periods of time, to dry.

 

Done