Stork

:dh::dh::dh: I thought I took a couple of distant shots last week of a heron being mobbed by Jackdaws at the Swannery on the Fleet Lagoon last Saturday but there have been sightings of a White Stork along the coast here this week, something made me look at my pics again and realised it was the Stork. Very few come to the UK mainly as they have receded from Western Europe and they hate flying over water so this was a surprise.

 

How exciting strongy. We have the White Storks as you know now in abundance in my area and 'my' pair from Algoz (plus offspring) have disappeared at the moment so have probably come to visit you. :yho:

We now have more than ever and can see dozens and dozens flying over Silves, the old Moorish capital where we shop 20 minutes away. I never tire seeing them and when we go through Algoz (6kms away and where our postbox is) I always say 'hello storks' as I pass their nests on the old factory chimney. :yez::hehe:

 

Unfortunately a lot of their habitat such grassy meadows which have been drained for agriculture and nesting places such as large buildings with chimneys have been demolished in the Netherlands and Germany so they aren't as common as they were, plus being shot (for fun, you can't eat them) at their favoured crossing points on migration ie the Bosphorus and Gibraltar.

Vicky, you are lucky to have them so close, I remember seeing your pics.

Woo, I only noticed tht it was different to a Heron as I was about to delete the pics.

 

Nice one Strongy. Will keep an eye open when i'm fishing.

Picked up my first swan at Weymouth last year, now a stork, that would be something else.

 

Great shot, Strongy. We have storks down the road at Leeds Castle but they don't count as they are tame ones which arrive with a minder. It's still wonderful to see them flying around, though.

 

Sorry, I'm being naughty here because I adore storks ...

... here is my link of 'my' storks ... I particularly like my last photo ...

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/storks-t11650.html?t=11650&highlight=Storks

 

Great pictures, thanks!!

 

Vicky, I presume yours have returned to Africa to spend the winter there. This one probably strayed off course but will eventually also return to Central Africa like yours via Gibraltar.

 

Yes, I think so strongy. The ones at Modelo grocery store have gone too besides 'mine' in Algoz. Although there are some in Ferragudo who never leave here for some reason.

Not sure I've said it but they are a fiercely protected species here and in Ferragudo (an old fishing village) there were old run-down warehouses which have been renovated into conference centres and various retails outlets ... and all the old chimneys are now part of the fabric of the new modern buildings. I must take some photos as it looks so odd to see these huge old chimneys rising up. I don't know how, but the chimneys have actually been sand-blasted and look ace but maybe they do that when the storks are holidaying abroad. :hehe:

 

It's nice to know some folk do care and there is some protection for them,

I recently read a RSPB report of a small 'group' of Spoonbills that landed at a marsh in Malta were shot at and half were killed by mindless 'Hunters', some just injured and left with blood soaked feathers.

 

We regularly see herons, Canada Geese (too many) and the odd pheasant on our golf course, as well as ducks moorhens and rabbits. They know we're no threat so we can pass close by them. Their only threat is probably the occasional fox we see. One used to hang around the tenth tee hoping to be thrown a biscuit, where most members tend to stop for a drink. The fact that there's more than half a dozen golf courses in a continuous stretch either side of the Mersey, gives them a huge area to live, more or less unmolested.

 

Great to hear it DR, I go to the Wirral (Birkenhead) quite a lot and it's a great (and safe) place for bird watching.