Yawning Yellow-billed Stork

[Stu Bowie]

There were quite a few of these Yellow-billed Storks around one of the dams in the Kruger National Park that I stopped at. I couldnt resist this shot as he lazily opened his large bill to yawn. The pink plumage is showing as breeding colours.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300 F/2.8 +1.4 TC = 420mm
1/2000
F/8.0
ISO 640

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

This is lovely Stu, the comp works well, the IQ is solid & the details very good.

[christopher galeski]

very nice Stuart,love the colors,the open bill a bonus,good details.

[shane shacaluga]

Lovely mixture of colours on this one. Very unique pose topped off by the backwards gaze of the stork.

Very good IQ and composition

TFS

[Bill Dix]

Beautiful colors, great pose, good techs, and the bird stands out nicely against the darker BG. Handsome image.

[Lorant Voros]

Interesting composition and nice colors. I like the open beak. Nice image.

[Marina Scarr]

One of your best, Stuart. Lovely light, terrific pose and comp and I love the open beak and angle toward the viewer.

[gail bisson]

WOW! this is terrific.
Like everything about it especially the light and the way the head is turned towards you.
No nits from me on this beautiful image,
Gail

[Stu Bowie]

Thank you all so much for the kind words and feedback. All appreciated.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Superb details and I love the yawning pose. Great colours, good light, neat greyish BG. Personally I`d crop a bit below to eliminate the black feathers below (but keeping the thinner vertical strip in). Really nice work.

[Robert Kimbrell]

I like the up close crop, It shows nice feather detail and sharpness. Nice he gave you a pose like this, excellent image.

[Binu John]

Lovely shot, Stuart! Beautiful light, colors and pose! Love the feather details, open beak and eye contact! TFS

[Karl Egressy]

Great portrait shot, Stuart. Love the pose with the open beak and the colors are great.

[Dumay de Boulle]

Amazing IQ and great light mate...the open beak adds loads.

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack everyone.

[Richard Flack]

Cracker shot Stu, the exposure and image quality is faultless!! Awesome pose and super details, well done man!

[David Salem]

That's great Stuart. Love the killer detail and exposure control in this shot. The colors, the open bill and the slate BG all look great. Very nice.