It Must Be Love
So what is love? Maybe having someone to goof around with and just be silly? Maybe having a mate with a good sense of humor that appreciates your jokes? It could be that special someone who is happy to give you a nice place to rest your head? It may be someone that is just like you, who really enjoys having you around all the time to share life’s adventures.
In any case, when I was watching a bunch of wood storks in a pine tree last week these two stood out. I quickly realized they were not fussing and arguing with each other as is typical wood stork behavior when everyone is trying to get the best branch. This pair were clearly in love…
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Awww!
Even though they have a face only a mother could love, they are kinda cute. 🙂
Love is in the air, wonderful shots Phil.
It sure for these two Jan, thanks.
Awww! How cute, Phil. What a beautiful series, perhaps this is their courtship ritual 😉
They are not much to look at (well to us) up close but they are still kinda cute!
Not sure if it’s courtship, maybe newlyweds? 🙂
true love… that is beyond just LOVE
They seemed to be quite happy with each other.
Great work Phill
Phil
I gotcha 🙂
Thanks glad you enjoyed these.
Oh jaa, das ist Liebe ♥
Vielen Dank bin ich froh, Sie genießen diese Fotos 🙂
Hello Phil,
love is so wonderful, yes … it must be LOVE!
An amazing series!
Have a nice day
moni
It sure looks like love to me moni! Thank you very much for your kind words!
AW! Great series, Phil.
Thanks so much Ruth!
Ahhh…these are great and certainly put a smile in my face. Wonderful post Phil.
I’m very glad you enjoyed them Edith, thanks!
Phil…love the backdrop of the pines for these images!
Thanks, yes those pines are a nice setting for birds. I have photos of spoonbills, egrets, and bald eagles etc. in those trees.
These are really sweet photos, Phil. Can’t help but think of the old rhyme: “Two little wood storks sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…” 🙂
That’s funny Deb, good one! Happy to hear you liked these wood stork photos!
Quanto sono belle queste foto che racchiudono tanta dolcezza…
La ringrazio molto! Sono molto dolce!
Awww…so sweet!! Wonderful interraction of the woodstorks!! Mostly I see them all by their lonesome swishing around for food rather than romancing their mate so this is a sweet treat!!
Glad I could present something a little different for you Judy! We are not short of wood storks here this summer. We must have 150 or more.
They look like they are rejoicing and telling the world. I bet they were posing for you too!. They could not have been better photo subjects even if you directed them. The series is wonderful, love the way they interacted.
That’s usually the way it happens. When I do try to direct the birds actions they ignore me. When I let them act naturally I get better photos. 🙂
Certainly this results quite a lot of small wood storks! Bet? 😛
That are very cute pictures!
Oh yes, we should be seeing babies next spring. 🙂
Happy you liked the photos!
These pictures are just gorgeous, Phil! Do woodstorks mate for life?
I’m happy you liked these Maggie! That is a good question, bald eagles will but not sure about wood storks.
Great pics!
Thanks a bunch Becky!
You got that right! Not much doubt about the passion in that tree, Phil. Nice series…each one a Hallmark moment.
Those two should have got themselves a room. But I guess for them a tree is the same thing. 😉
That’s so sweet AND cute. And I never really thought I’d be saying wood storks make me go ‘aww,’ either…kinda like I now think gators are handsome because of you. Love these photos, as you really captured their love!
I count that as a victory, you now think both wood storks and alligators are cute. My work here is done.
What a tender sequence. Agree about the Hallmark moment… perhaps a Valentine Day’s card?
Not sure how the greeting card companies will feel about wood storks. For most people, the first thing that reminds them of romance will not be wood storks. It will probably be alligators. 😛 😀
That got a good belly laugh! Yay! we finally got some rain!!!
Glad you got a laugh!
You have rain?! Sunny and humid with temps in the 90s (still) here.
I’m heading over to the marsh soon anyway, I have to see if the cranky spoonbill will show up again today.
In love and in sync Phil. These are awesome. Made me smile. Kathy 🙂
Hey thanks a million Kathy, I’m so happy you enjoyed these photos and I appreciate you looking and commenting.
I love these photos! For some reason, I love looking at and watching the wood storks at HBSP. They aren’t the most beautiful birds, but they sure make up for it with their gracefulness!!
They are not much to look at up close but they are very elegant flyers. I sometimes tend to overlook them but I couldn’t miss this pair!
I like the photos of the one resting on the other’s back. Very affectionate.
I thought the same thing Rick they did seem quite affectionate.
It’s amazing how love changes attitudes and actions
Yes it is, normally these guys are doing nothing but shoving each other around in the trees trying to get a better branch.
Very impressive photos and the Wood Storks look rather cute. As you say, it must be love.
I think they look cute but I guess it’s mostly the context. But it’s proof there really is someone for everyone.
WOW!
Thanks very much Nia!
Fantastic ! … They are so beautiful and your serie of them is one of your best … // Maria 🙂
I am very happy you enjoyed these Maria!
They’re having the time of their life, I should say. Absolutely great shots, Phil.
They sure did seem to be having a great time! Glad you liked these photos.
They certainly have eyes for one another, especially in the last shot.
Oh absolutely! They look to be in love.
Beautiful, every single one of them. Wanna give a try (I think you should): http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/competition_overview.php
I’m happy you liked these wood stork photos Amy!
Thanks for thinking of me with that contest and I appreciate your support!
Aw Phil what a lovely post! That’s really touching. 🙂
Thank you so much Lucy I’m very happy you liked the tree top ‘lovers’. 🙂
Phil, these are some of your best! Photos like these just leave a person with the best feeling… love!
I’m very happy to hear you say that it means a lot to me. I was quite surprised when I saw this behavior and I almost didn’t keep an eye on them but glad I choose to stick around to see and photograph this behavior.
Thanks for the kind words!
I’m smitten! Is this usually nesting time for them? If so, looking forward to upcoming developments. Excellent photos, Phil.
They wouldn’t normally be nesting or be breeding in our location or at this time of year. I’m sure what the deal was with this pair. Maybe newlyweds? 😀
Tee hee, honeymooners. Curious about the time of year and breeding-like behavior. Here in New England, some of our Great Blue Herons are sporting long breeding plumes again. Migration isn’t that far off. They stil have the dark non-breeding upper beak coloring. Maybe they are gearing up for being ready to breed shortly after migrating south? Maybe they’re just confused, like me?
This started off being an odd year for us here and continues now. The weather patterns seemed to throw all sorts of sightings and behaviors all out of whack. The Spring was weird with some birds here that shouldn’t be, and others that should be were not here. Many of us are a bit confused. 🙂
Agreed. We had a freak snow the second week of May!
That are truely lovely shots. 😉
I’m very happy you enjoyed them!
A match made in heaven?
I can honestly say that these two genuinely appeared to be quite affectionate with each other. Normally the wood storks are bickering in the trees.
Love these! Haven’t been getting daily notifications about your posts…I love technology, most of the time!
These made me smile. TY
Oh, what wonderful shots of the “lovebirds”. Adorable!