Saddle-billed Stork Fishing

Ive just returned from a quick 3 day weekend trip to our Kruger National Park. On the saturday morning, as we started our game drive, we came across this female Saddle-billed Stork fishing in a small watering hole. She was all over the place twisting and turning whilst dipping her head under the water looking for breakfast. On this occasion, as she lifted her head, I fired away, and was happy to see she had a food item between her bill. Whilst not the perfect HA, in these situations you have to take what you get, as you are not allowed to leave your car, or drive off the roads. Taken early morning.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300 F/2.8
1/1000
F/7.1
ISO 500

Exp comp +0.33

Hi Stuart, You seem to have made a great deal out of a non-ideal situation. Well done!
Cheers, Ian

Nice one of this scarce bird, Stuart! Nice focus & clarity - well done!

Excellent image of beautiful stork in habitat, Stuart Sir.
I liked colours of open beak and prey in it, raised foot just touching the water, dripping water droplets.
Very nice composition too.

Regards,
Satish.

nice capture Stuart,sharp good detail,nice colors,like the pose and water drops.

So much interest here, Stuart. Tack sharp and the food item and water droplets add to the frame. That one vertical stick above and below the neck distracted me, and unless you object to this, I'd get rid of it . Head angle is not much of an issue for me as the eye is so sharp and the bird is focused on his meal, not us, which is ok!

Hi Stuart. Really like the pose. Nice and sharp image. Cool to get the food item in the centre of its bill. If anything the BG is just a little distracting IMO. TFS

Lots of detail in blacks and whites, colour looks fantastic!

Bird pop a bit too much against BG Stuart, looks a bit processed. The solution- I do not know:eek3:

Confusing you now...

Andre

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Hi Stu - great color and detail. Love the rear leg at a right angle, adds a comical element. Good timing with the food item and open bill. Looks like the trip wasn't a total waste.

TFS,
Rachel

Colors, pose, clarity of the bird all superb. HA doesn't bother me. BG slightly distracting, but as you say, you take what you can get. Great shot, especially considering the constraint of shooting from the car.

What an amazing looking bird and what great behavior you captured, Stuart. Love seeing the prey.

Fantastic capture of a sensational species Stu!
Cheers, Greg

What a cool looking stork, i have never seen one before. Great job catching the action and the prey item in the air. The colors are perfect and the exposure and feather detail look great too.
Very nice Stuart

Like the pose, colors and details. The water drops in the beak, too. Well done, Stuart