Wood Stork Fly-By At J.N. Ding Darling NWR

A Wood Stork fairly close Fly-By along the Wildlife Drive at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Florida. Images here were taken years ago with a Canon 400mm DO lens with a Canon 7D and a 300-800mm Sigma lens with a 1.4x Teleconverter on a Canon 1DmkIII. The Wood Stork is a large American wading bird in the family Ciconiidae (storks), the only member of the family to breed in North America. It was formerly called the “Wood Ibis”, though it is not an Ibis. The Wood Stork is 59.1-68.9 inches tall so it stands out among other birds when roosting among other birds . They fly with their neck and legs outstretched but tend to perch with the neck drawn in, giving them a hump backed appearance. Wood Storks are entirely white save for their black flight feathers and tail. Their head is not feathered and has a scaly bald look.

Wood Stork Fly By, 400mm DO lens, Canon 7D

Wood Stork roosting on tree branch, 300-800mm Sigma lens with 1.4x Teleconverter, 1120mm, Canon 1D mkIII,

Wood Stork Roosting with Spoonbills Showing Wood Stork’s Large Size Compared to Roseate Spoonbills which are also fairly large. Image taken with a 300-800mm Sigma lens, Canon 1D mkIII

7 Comments on “Wood Stork Fly-By At J.N. Ding Darling NWR”

Eliza Waters
June 8, 2022

Majestic, but they sure wouldn’t win any beauty contest. 😉

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  June 8, 2022
  
  Love your comment Eliza!!👍 Thanks!
  
  Reply
Chaymaa
June 9, 2022

So cute

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  June 9, 2022
  
  Thanks Chaymaa! They are interesting birds to photograph!
  
  Reply
  - Chaymaa
    June 9, 2022
    
    Yes, they seem so 😊
Bay Photos By Donna
June 10, 2022

Great flight shots of the WS!

Reply
- Reed Andariese
  June 10, 2022
  
  Thanks Donna! I usually do not see them that close when in flight, so it was fun to get a series of images in flight!
  
  Reply