White Storks

White Storks - South Spain - September 2013
The White Stork is a large and unmistakable wading bird, 40-50 inches tall with a 60-80 inches wingspan, and is completely white except for the black wing flight feathers with red legs and a long red bill. They walk slowly and steadily on the ground and fly with necks outstretched.

The White Stork breeds in the warmer parts of Europe (north to Estonia), north west Africa and south west Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan). It is a strong migrant, wintering mainly in tropical Africa down to the south of South Africa and also in the Indian subcontinent.

In many parts of Europe the White Stork is an unmissable bird, breeding in towns and villages on the tops of roofs and telegraph poles or in colonies in trees in open parkland and feeding openly in fields and meadows.

There has been a severe decline in numbers in Europe since the Second World War and the biggest concentration remains in the Iberian Peninsula.

However, White Storks are generally well protected given the reputation they have for being a lucky bird. The myth about storks bringing babies probably arose because they arrived back in Europe on fairly predictable dates and almost exactly 9 months after the previous mid-summer.

Date: 9th September 2013

Location: La Janda, Andalucia, Spain

Black-winged Stilt


Also in: South Spain - September 2013

Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
Sierra de Andújar, Andalucia, Spain
Red Deer
Red Deer
Red Deer
Mouflon
Iberian Lynx - El Lince Ibérico
Iberian Lynx - El Lince Ibérico
Black Vulture
Griffon Vultures
Griffon Vultures
Spanish Terrapin
Greater Flamingo

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