Saddle-Billed Storks, Africa's Big Birds

Wildlife and Nature Pictures - Saddle-billed Stork

Taken on a recent trip to the Kruger National Park, I came across this female (you can tell by the yellow eye iris, males iris's are black and have smallish yellow wattles)  Saddled Billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) fishing in a small stream. I sat there amazed as I watched this stork probably the world's tallest stork coming in at a staggering 150 cm (59 in), in height, a length of 142 cm (56 in) and a 2.4–2.7 m (7.9–8.9 ft) wingspan. They are silent except for bill-clattering at the nest. Like most storks, these fly with the neck outstretched, not retracted like a heron in flight.

This small stream produced 3 largish catfish for her while I was sat their watching her prod and prod away then boom! One more catfish. Truly a wander of nature in this wildlife special moment

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Saddle-Billed Stork - Punda Maria Area - Kruger National Park - South Africa