Patience | Phil Lanoue Photography

Patience

Last night I was watching this wood stork as it was fishing in the salt marsh at sunset. Wood storks fish by placing their large bills in the water and keeping it quite still. Although they may occasionally walk slowly with their face in the water, they often remain absolutely motionless waiting for a fish to swim by which they can grab. This one waited for quite a while and I never saw it catch anything. As it got darker, I left the stork still patiently fishing and anticipating that a fish would swim his way. I hope he was eventually rewarded for his diligence…

44 thoughts on “Patience”

Chillbrook on April 13, 2013 at 1:36 pm said:

You’d think it might try a different approach. Lovely pictures Phil with that lovely evening light.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:52 pm said:
  
  This is how they do it and sometimes I can’t figure out how a bird that big survives working so long for maybe a small meal.
  Thanks much Adrian!
  
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HansHB on April 13, 2013 at 1:51 pm said:

Great photos and wonderful light!
Great photojob!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:52 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Hans, glad you liked these!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on April 13, 2013 at 2:10 pm said:

Tremendous…love the photos.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks Charlie I appreciate it!
  
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edithlevyphotography on April 13, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:

Looks like both you and he were patient. Wonderful images.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  One of my legs ‘went to sleep’ while I was sitting there waiting for him to catch a fish. 🙂
  Thanks
  
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janmasyn on April 13, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:

Great shots Phil, and beautiful evening light.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:54 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot Jan and I really like that sunset lighting, it’s a good time to be out there.
  
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Lisa Gordon on April 13, 2013 at 4:30 pm said:

Beautiful bird, and such wonderful light!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:54 pm said:
  
  Thank you and yes that is a great time of day for bird photos.
  
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Gunta on April 13, 2013 at 4:34 pm said:

That has got to be the epitome of patience….

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:55 pm said:
  
  I don’t know how they do it, I was all cramped up waiting for him to catch something.
  
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  - Gunta on April 14, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
    
    Sounds like you have way more patience than I do… meditation, maybe? Call him Zen…
    
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Susan Sohl on April 13, 2013 at 4:39 pm said:

Nice!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:55 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sue!
  
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Sue on April 13, 2013 at 5:15 pm said:

The golden evening light

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- Sue on April 13, 2013 at 5:17 pm said:
  
  Sorry, that comment got away from me….as I was saying, the light makes for a beautiful image and reflection.
  
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  - Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:56 pm said:
    
    Thanks I really enjoy being out at that time for wildlife photos.
    
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Paula on April 13, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:

Reminds me of those fishermen that stand on a shore the whole day without catching anything, and feeling completely relaxed 🙂 Wonderful bird portraits, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  He seemed quite relaxed but I got all cramped up sitting and waiting for him to catch something. 🙂
  Thanks Paula!
  
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  - Paula on April 15, 2013 at 1:20 pm said:
    
    Yes, I believe you did Phil 🙂 Kudos to you for your patience 😀
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 15, 2013 at 4:38 pm said:
      
      He had more patience then me, I eventually left but he had to stay if he wanted dinner.
      
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Maggie Davey on April 13, 2013 at 6:34 pm said:

What lovely pictures, Phil! Your light is so beautiful for taking pictures and you do it full credit.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Maggie and I really like to be out there for sunset lighting! The birds automatically look good. 🙂
  
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The Wanderlust Gene on April 13, 2013 at 6:49 pm said:

Patient, that’s for sure! I love how that evening light highlights this hopeful bird and its reflection on the silvery water.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, they sure do have a lot of patience for sure and that light kept me hanging around and waiting with the stork.
  
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norasphotos4u on April 13, 2013 at 8:49 pm said:

Gorgeous captures

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much.
  
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lylekrahn on April 13, 2013 at 9:29 pm said:

I would probably starve if my eating depended on that! I loved the reflections in the third and fourth photos.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Yes that feeding style would not work well for me.
  Glad you liked these photos.
  
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Andrew on April 14, 2013 at 5:24 am said:

Beautiful photos, Phil. Such a fine bird.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Andrew! He has a face only a mother could love but they are interesting birds.
  
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adinparadise on April 14, 2013 at 3:29 pm said:

Gorgeous photos, Phil. He does look very patient indeed. Hope he got some supper.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 14, 2013 at 6:01 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Sylvia glad you liked these. If he did get a supper it was after I left as he had more patience then me. But then again he had to be out there, I had steaks at home to go on the grill. 🙂
  
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Molly Argo on April 14, 2013 at 7:36 pm said:

Wonderful photos! Maybe I should send you some of my Woodstorks to teach yours how to fish. Here they constantly walk and stir up the bottom as they feel around with their feet, all the while their bills are in the water, moving back and forth. It’s strange that yours feed in an entirely different manner.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 15, 2013 at 4:36 pm said:
  
  Ours do that sometimes, mostly when in a group they move around a lot. But this guy was on his own and taking it very slow.
  Thanks for looking Molly!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on April 14, 2013 at 9:29 pm said:

I did not know that this is how the storks fished. Talk about some incredible patience. The lighting on these are stunning Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 15, 2013 at 4:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Emily I appreciate you looking and commenting! These guys are not much to look at up close but they are quite interesting.
  
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Fergiemoto on April 15, 2013 at 7:25 pm said:

Yes, after that much patience, you would hope he was properly rewarded with dinner. Great shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 19, 2013 at 4:53 pm said:
  
  I hope he eventually caught himself something nice and tasty!
  
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theforagingphotographer on April 17, 2013 at 3:55 am said:

Lovely light and reflections here Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 19, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Lucy, so glad you like these!
  
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