Wood Storks Get A Visitor
Yesterday afternoon the usual gaggle of wood storks had an unexpected and unusual visitor drop into their territory in the marsh pond.
An American White Pelican arrived and proceeded to swim back and forth in front of the wood stork lineup scooping up numerous fish.
It’s worthwhile to note the size difference between the two species. Wood storks are large birds but the white pelican makes them look medium sized at best, while the tricolored heron in the fourth photo looks tiny compared to our pelican friend.
As the afternoon went on… more arriving wood storks did not faze the pelican and at one point some of the wood storks even appeared to be showing the big guy some respect!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week,
But I’m damned if I see how the helican.
Ogden Nash
Maybe a well-known verse to many, but #4 made me think of it. Love the intensity of the color and light in that image of its bill.
I remember that verse from an old episode of Columbo, did you ever see it? 🙂
Thanks for checking these out Steve.
I did see Columbo both in its original run and in syndication, but don’t remember the verse being in an episode. I do remember reading this in school.
It was the episode with Irish IRA guy that was trying to smuggle out guns and liked drinking Full’s Whiskey.
They were in a bar and the challenge was Limericks at Twenty Paces. Columbo told that pelican one.
Some amazing shots here. The two shots with the light shining through that pouch really makes it shine. It might have been easy to miss the tiny tricolor if you hadn’t pointed him out. That third shot looks like the stork is landing on the pelican’s back and the final shot nearly makes the wood storks appear equal to the size of the pelican.
Fantastic shooting, as always!
Hey thanks a million! Glad you liked the pics of big whitey! That tri really does look tiny next to the penguin doesn’t he?! And the tri is not even that small of a bird.
Great shots! I especially like the one of the pelican with its mouth open. Amazing work.
I’m happy you enjoyed these and that shot was my favorite as well!
Love the bright orange beak pouch! Is he lost? or an early migrater?
He came in with a few others but they just kept flying by and this one decided to drop in and stay a while. It’s actually fairly uncommon for us to see white pelicans at any time of year and I don’t know why they came by now.
The shots capture rich detail and color, they are so enjoyable.
Well that;s great to hear Charlie, glad you liked seeing a glimpse of life all the way on the back edge of the pond. I kept hoping the big guy would come in closer but he never did.
Great set!! Thanks, Phil
I appreciate you looking and commenting, thanks!
Great shots, Phil. I would love that Pelican to come visit me. 🙂
He had some friends with him at first but they kept flying while this one dropped in and stayed for the afternoon.
Maybe the rest are heading your way?! 🙂
These are brilliant shots, Phil! Great the way they show the difference in size between the birds – it looks as though the Pelican could have swallowed the little Tri in one gulp!
The funny thing is that the tri is not at all really a tiny bird, but wow he sure looks it next to big whitey!
Good grief! That Pelican really is huge, then!
Lovely Phil. I love the image with his mouth open.
Thank you Edith, that one is my favorite too!
The pelican does make the wood stork look smaller. He seems like he doesn’t have a care in the world in the midst of all those storks. I love the tall grass behind the birds, and the reflections. The grass is a great backdrop!
That was exactly it! He seemed completely care free the entire time! It was funny too because he came in with some friends but none of them stayed.
This was a view looking all the way across the marsh pond. I kept hoping the big guy would come in close but he never did.
Beautiful colors…nature is so great!!!!
Nature really is quite amazing and we are always thrilled when we get to see several species all together in one place. There were also alligators and anhingas out with this group at various times. Fun!