I startled a few of these Wood Storks, which then startled me, when I walked under a tree where they were perched. They took off then settled in on the other side of a small pond.
Wood Stork – click photo for larger veiw
The path through this sanctuary led underneath the new tree. Knowing they were there I approached slowly and got some nice shots from below.
Wood Stork – click photo for larger veiw
The pine tree made a much better backdrop than the usual mud we see them wading in.
Wood Stork – click photo for larger veiw
Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston, SC.
The tide was nearly low and the wading birds were steadily gathering food in the condensed water at the edge of the marsh. A group of six or eight Wood Storks waded back and forth mostly with their heads down searching for fish.
Wood Stork Flight – Peak a Boo – click photo for larger view
As the water continued to drain, occasionally they would fly back to where the water was deeper.
Wood Stork Flight – click photo for larger view
The moon-scape look of the exposed sand made this stork with his big shadow look even more pre-historic.
Wood Stork Flight with shadow and reflection – click photo for larger view
I’ve not had much success getting shots of the larger wading birds in flight with any context even with all the recent photography opportunities nearby. They are so big it’s hard to get a good angle that includes so much as a tree.
Wood stork in Flight
These photographs of a Wood Stork do give a sense of their wingspan, even with nothing else but the sky in the photos. And their subtle green color is shown off when the wings are flapping “down.”
Wood Stork and Alligator – click on photo for larger view
The wading birds rarely show any acknowledgement that an Alligator is in their midst. They just keep on doing what they were doing, in this case looking for breakfast.
Wood Stork and Alligator – click on photo for larger view
We found the mother lode today. Of wading birds, that is. A state managed wildlife area near us controls the water depth in these impoundments to “provide quality habitat” for various bird species. Some days you go here and see nothing. Today was nothing short of amazing.
Wading Birds spread across the impoundment – click photo for larger view
At this time of year the water is kept low in various spots and the wading birds get access to an ample supply of easily obtainable food. There were so many birds it was hard to get a good shot of the group. In addition to those seen here Roseate Spoonbills, Tri-color Heron, Skimmers, and Great Blue Heron were well represented and all mixed in together.
Wading Birds: Wood Stork, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Glossy Ibis, Black Necked Stilt – click photo for larger view
Over the course of the three hours we watched this morning groups moved around to various areas of the pond or left, perhaps full and looking for a cooler spot to spend the rest of the day.
We could see a few Wood Storks dropping down in a marsh just off the road. What luck, room to pull off the road and a clear view down this open area to a chaotic scene of feeding Wood Storks with a few smaller wading birds joined in.
Wood Stork Feeding Frenzy – click photo for larger view
The group was in constant motion and some took off for greener pastures, well beyond where we could see.
Wood Stork Feeding Frenzy – click photo for larger view
A few managed to sneak off on their own, busily working the water.
Wood Stork – click photo for larger view
The rest just kept moving further down this outlet.
Wood Stork Frenzy – click photo for larger view
Timing is everything. When we passed back by this area an hour later there wasn’t a bird in sight.
From a distance this Wood Stork looked like it could be a branch on this partly dead magnolia. He stood ram-rod straight for several minutes, then started to do toe-touches, this one a show-off on just one leg.