Unlike the other wading birds that I am familiar with Wood Storks will lay down out in the open.
This group was enjoying a December afternoon basking in the sun.
I wasn’t that close as you can see from this wider view. The channel in the foreground is the deeper section at Magnolia Plantation’s boat pond, drained for the winter.
My route took me around the pond returning on the path that runs through the trees in the above image, where I took the next two images.
Here some dangling Spanish Moss interrupts the picture but if you zoom in you can see how Wood Storks lay with their feet sticking straight out in front of them. Not what you might expect!
I love this set of shots, Ellen. I’ve never seen a Wood Stork laying down myself, your first photo (used as the header too) is an awesome scene! I have seen herons and egrets sitting on their legs that way, really makes me wince! 😉
Thanks, Donna! The first time I saw one do this on the edge of a park pond I thought it must be ill or wounded. Happily that wasn’t the case.
Amazing!!! How beautiful!!
Thank you, Isabel!