Wood Stork
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I find a unique beauty to this unusual, prehistoric-looking bird, the Wood Stork.
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Wood Stork foraging
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Wood Stork
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Wood Stork, foraging
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Not sure what the commotion was in the water, but there was a sudden, quick take-off while foraging.
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Wood Stork in flight
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Maybe it was the alligator I had spotted here earlier, who seemed to be eyeing a Snowy Egret at that time.
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Toothy Alligator eyeing Snowy Egret
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No worries for the little egret, I watched that scene play out, the Snowy walked away safely. 🙂
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Photos by Donna 
Great captures of the stork Donna, and yes it has a very primitive face. Love your flight shot, as well as the way you captured the gator viewing the egret, great captures all round my friend 🙂
Thank you, Ashley! Wildlife in Florida is a whole lotta different than home in Maryland, and I’m enjoying the challenge of capturing it. 🙂
It is easy to see that birds are descendants of dinosaurs.
There are a few species that most definitely prove it!
The birds live a dangerous life there, yikes! 😎
Yes, they do, all along the coast/inland wetlands from Texas all the way to the east coast, down into all of Florida and up to South Carolina. The birds and gators co-habitat together, yet any bird can be a meal at any time if the gator so chooses. I get nervous every time I see the scene, and yet never have I witnessed a gator attacking a bird. But they do, I know! 😲 😎
Very nice series of images Donna! Wood Storks are interesting photo subjects! A little ugly in an interesting & Great Way!😊
Thank you, Reed, I very much agree, unique & interesting! 😊
They may be the real ‘super star’ of the marshes. Wonderful shots 👏👏👏
Thank you very much, Ted! 😊
Wow, a bit of a trial sharing that water.
From the coastal wetlands of Texas all the way to & down into Florida and then up the coast of South Carolina, birds and gators co-habitat but it definitely is a trial each time to share such close space!
I am glad it missed being a meal for the gator! They are prehistoric looking. You had some lovely looks at it and made some wonderful images of it.
Thank you, Deborah! Me too, I hate seeing the gator/bird scene, so afraid I’ll see an attack. But all last winter in Florida and this past month, I’ve never witnessed one. Still I worry each time, I know a gator will do it! 😉
I’m surprise that you can get that close of this Wood Stork, they are big guys but they get scared so easy. Great captures, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! There was a bush that I was able to slowly walk up behind and then slowly, and I mean real slow, side stepped out one slow step at a time to get it in view. The stork was foraging away from me and moving along so that was a plus. I knew they were easily spooked. There was also a Great Egret and a Little Blue Heron behind the Wood Stork, so I wonder if the three together had a feel-safe factor? When the stork took flight, the other two followed but seemed to not know why, they just knew they had to go. I think the sneaky gator was around there somewhere. 😉
They look like the result of a wild night between a Snowy Egret and a vulture/wild turkey. Great photos!
😅 😂 🤣 that really cracked me up!! Thanks for the laughs, you nailed it!!!
Wow, that Wood Stork is an odd looking bird!
They are different! 😉
I imagine the soundtrack of ‘Jaws’ every time I see one of those skulking alligators! 😉 I wonder how many birds they manage to catch? I’d rather they stuck to fish. 😉
Now I’ll start hearing the ‘Jaws’ soundtrack, lol. I hope not too many birds. Whew, I’m glad I’ve never seen a bird attack, although I’ve seen scenes that I thought it was going to happen. Gators also like fish, turtles, small mammals. I think they should stick to fish too. 😉
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Looks like Dr Frankenstien played around with that one! Ugly as sin but it’s mother loves it.
Definitely a unique-looking bird, Brian. A mother’s love is unconditional! 😊
Wood stork looks different…I will not subscribe to the view that it is ugly. Every living thing has its own beauty!!
I very much agree with you, Indira! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 😊
I have never seen a Wood Stork, and welcomes your beautiful shots of it in this post. The alligator one with the egret in front is very well done!
I am happy to introduce this unique-looking bird to you, Hien! They are very shy, I was extremely lucky to be able to get so close. 😊
Fantastic pictures of the wood stork! I’ve never seen one before — what a treat. Those alligators sure keep all the birds on their toes…
Thank you, Barbara! I was excited to be able to get so close to the shy Wood Stork. And you are correct with the gators and birds! 😉
Although not commonly seen or photographed your photos are fabulous!
Nearly any creature in their natural habitat looks content and satisfied.
The same is true with these storks. Wonderful pictures Donna!
Thank you very much, Eddie! I’ve seen this one in the area before, then gone for days. I was so happy to see it again. I was enroute to the grocery store, just a little side detour! 😉
It took off because it was baby delivery time.
And that is the truth! 😉
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When I first read the blog, I saw “Woodstock” instead of “Wood Stork”. It’s time for me to go to bed. 😂
Beautiful photos, Donna! ❤
😂 that is funny! You’ve got a lot going on now, you’re brain is in high-gear. 😉 Thanks Tanja!
Yep! It definitely is. I have to write everything down, or I will forget it. 🙄
I seriously cannot live without my MS Outlook task list. 😉 Been using it for many, many years. Keeps me straight!
I’m still old school. Everything goes on paper. If we have a power outage and my phone runs low, I still have my notes I need together. 🤣😂
I do love the Wood Storks and this is a great series, Donna! It’s interesting seeing them next to that bright green grass.
Thank you Ellen! This lake has offered a nice variety of birds, and I am loving that green grass instead of the usual marsh grasses.
The circle of life is so incredible, which was illustrated by your last photo. There is no life without death.
You are correct, Courtney! 🙂