Hard At Work

This time of year we do have some wood storks in the area but not two hundred as we might in the summer, it’s more like two individuals. This pair were hard at work fishing in the salt marsh while at the same time a great blue heron was busy ignoring the storks. That’s just fine with the wood storks as they don’t need any interference from a pesky blue heron. The blue herons often feel free to comment on most anything that takes place in their vicinity, so it was just as well that this one decided to sit quietly while the storks went about their business. Eventually they moved further down along the marsh picking up small fish and shrimp and whatever else they might find appealing. The wood storks are large birds and although they do mostly feed on minnows they are frequently hard at work finding them because they need to eat a lot of these tiny fish to sustain them.

35 thoughts on “Hard At Work”

shoreacres on March 3, 2013 at 2:56 pm said:

Wonderful portraits of the storks. It’s always nice when people leave you alone and let you browse the buffet table at your leisure!

In the last photo, is that plant (or whatever) in the lower right something special? I’ve decided it’s a plant, although the though of oysters came to me first – we often have open, dead ones hanging around on pilings, bulkheads and such, and they can look pretty similar.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2013 at 3:19 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much I ‘m happy you like these photoss!
  Those are indeed oysters visible in the photo. The salt marsh there has oyster beds all over. Oysters are great to have around as they filter the water as they feed.
  
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thehappyhugger on March 3, 2013 at 2:57 pm said:

Those Blue Herons sound like real Mrs Grundies 🙂 Nice pics again 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2013 at 3:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking out these pics! The great blue herons can be a bit cranky at times. 🙂
  
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Gunta on March 3, 2013 at 3:10 pm said:

That last shot looked like he (she?) was talking right at you!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2013 at 3:21 pm said:
  
  Yes it does look like that. 🙂 I believe it was knocking back something tiny that it just caught.
  Thanks for looking Gunta!
  
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theforagingphotographer on March 3, 2013 at 3:57 pm said:

I love the first one – the storks are mirror images of each other! They were at the back of the queue when the gorgeous looks were handed out, weren’t they, but it’s lovely to see these pictures of them!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:39 pm said:
  
  Oh yeah, they are definitely not the prettiest animal on the planet, but it is fun to watch these big goofy guys! 🙂
  
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Molly Argo on March 3, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

Great photos of these ‘Brutes’! These have always been perhaps my favorite bird to watch feeding. I just love their foot work!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot Molly, glad you like these. I also enjoy watching our large goofy friends do their thing!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on March 3, 2013 at 4:16 pm said:

I always love watching our long legged friends walk through the wetlands and hunt. They are such amazing creatures. Thank you for sharing.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:40 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for looking and commenting I greatly appreciate it. 🙂
  
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Chillbrook on March 3, 2013 at 4:48 pm said:

Lovely series Phil. Funny looking birds the wood storks. That blue heron is very pointedly ignoring what’s going on isn’t he? 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:41 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Adrian! Yeah I don’t know what it was with the blue heron. They normally feel compelled to be involved with everything that goes on but not this guy.
  
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janmasyn on March 3, 2013 at 6:03 pm said:

Great shots Phil, wonderful captures of the “wood storks”.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Jan glad you enjoyed seeing our goofy friends in the marsh.
  
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lylekrahn on March 3, 2013 at 6:04 pm said:

It’s great to see everybody getting along! I’m not familiar with the wood stork so it’s nice to see it.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm said:
  
  Yeah they were pretty much getting along fine. The wood stork is an odd almost prehistoric bird that up until recently was on the endangered list.
  
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Amy on March 3, 2013 at 9:53 pm said:

Do wood storks constantly eat? They do work pretty hard.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:43 pm said:
  
  Well for big birds they do an awful lot of standing around. They really work at it when feeding but sometimes they appear quite lazy.
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on March 4, 2013 at 7:05 am said:

Beautiful images, but that is a face only a mother could love. They really are a strangely, beautiful bird.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:45 pm said:
  
  Absolutely only a face a mother could love. But they are quite elegant flyers. When dropping down from a height they often perform this sort of parachute drop that looks quite amazing.
  
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joserasan66 on March 4, 2013 at 1:55 pm said:

Una Vez Más Una Serie Formada Por Grandes Fotografías, Gracias Por Compartirlas Con Nosotros… Un Saludo.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 4, 2013 at 7:46 pm said:
  
  Muchas gracias por mirar estas fotos. 🙂
  
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Bella Remy Photography on March 4, 2013 at 9:34 pm said:

You have to wonder what mother nature was thinking when she created the wood stork. A face only a mother can love.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2013 at 10:53 am said:
  
  Yes they are not much to look at especially up close. But they are quite elegant flyers. When descending from a height, they often will utilize this sort of parachute drop technique that is impressive to view.
  
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FeyGirl on March 5, 2013 at 10:37 am said:

Love our wood storks! So happy to see them back….

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- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2013 at 10:55 am said:
  
  Right now I’m happy to see a few isolated individuals, but by mid summer two hundred of them can be a bit overwhelming and they can really make a heck of a mess out of a marsh pond. 😯 🙂
  
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  - FeyGirl on March 5, 2013 at 10:59 am said:
    
    At least you’re seeing that many, you’re lucky! I’d rather see endangered wood storks creating that havoc, wow!
    
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adinparadise on March 6, 2013 at 1:09 pm said:

So that’s where my wood storks have got to! I was wondering why I hadn’t seen them here this time. 😦 The pickings must be better in your salt marsh. Fabulous pics, Phil. The reflections are awesome. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 13, 2013 at 9:36 am said:
  
  Thank you so much Sylvia! Those wood storks can be fickle with a ‘the grass is always greener’ type attitude. 🙂
  
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PhotosAbitibi on March 10, 2013 at 11:25 am said:

Your photographs are stunning!
It is a pleasure to renew each time to come and see.
Thank you it’s working like a pro!

Marie xx

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- Phil Lanoue on March 13, 2013 at 9:36 am said:
  
  Well I am so happy you enjoy the photos! I appreciate your visit and your kind comments!
  
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zannyro on March 11, 2013 at 10:53 pm said:

Just beautiful 🙂 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 13, 2013 at 9:37 am said:
  
  Thanks very much! So glad you like them!
  
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