Stork Taking 1 of 5
Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala
At last! I managed to get a bird in full flight, in reasonable focus and not as a silhoutte. This beautiful stork was following fixed routes from his nest to a dry tree to pickup twigs. It made it easy for me to follow his movements closely. Camera's highspeed focus also performed well this time.
I was also interested in catching him on his way to his nest to deliver the goods. I am happy I was able to do that. I felt great and Wright brothers must have felt the same when they first made a flight, I am sure.
For mor details on these birds, look up the photos next.
See all photos in this series.

Comments and faves
Caro's Lines, marvels of nature, Calovi, Ken Blackwell, and 61 other people added this photo to their favorites.
junglecatwoman (89 months ago | reply)
what a magnificent creature n picture! :)
Bubba Trout (89 months ago | reply)
Yes, very beautiful and such striking color. Great job catching it! 123
smalldogs (89 months ago | reply)
GREAT capture!
garyhymes (89 months ago | reply)
This is the best! 123
iwasfixin2 (89 months ago | reply)
what a wonderful moment you captured. i love that stork.
123
Jan Teekens (89 months ago | reply)
beautiful!
Reciprocity (89 months ago | reply)
This is the one Pandiyan. You've got the lot, colours, shape and more importantly the beak contents tell you exactly what is going on. Great angle as well.
akiruna (89 months ago | reply)
Very nice and wonderful shot! (123)
Gini~ (89 months ago | reply)
Wow!
SPH (89 months ago | reply)
Lucky you!
robphoto (89 months ago | reply)
Excellent in every way!
redmann (89 months ago | reply)
Beautiful capture.
Alexander Yates (89 months ago | reply)
I adore this! (1-2-3)
marvels of nature (89 months ago | reply)
Amazing!!
Magdalen Green Photography (89 months ago | reply)
viewed from 1-2-3 pool
great capture
impressive
Dave Appleton (89 months ago | reply)
I'd always thought these were ugly birds but you've made this one look truly magnificent!
Calovi (89 months ago | reply)
instant fav! It's always a pleasure visit your photostream! :)
Supriya O (89 months ago | reply)
I dont know how i missed this one! Its fantastic!
www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/2006/01/11 /page4/
Congrats!!
mimbrava (89 months ago | reply)
Yay!!!
vsz (89 months ago | reply)
what a capture, such an impressive bird--and at work too. Very interesting stuff!
MalayalaM (89 months ago | reply)
This is a wonderful set of painted stork pictures, Pandiyan. The details have come out very well. Where did you take these pics? Here's a link to my painted stork pictures from Kokkare Bellur (stork village) and Ranganathittu in Karnataka.

Captain Suresh Sharma (89 months ago | reply)
Superb shot!
Ken Blackwell (89 months ago | reply)
That is a fantastic shot and one more pretty bird. Congratulations!!!
LinkTree (89 months ago | reply)
WOW,
Great picture - so sharp and clear!
Its wonderful!
(3-2-1)
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thank you all very much for visiting and leaving such encouraging remarks.
As many of you said, a bird in flight is a fantastic sight and makes your spirits soar. And this is one bird, as Dave Appleton said, looks a bit awkward on land but looks so elegant and graceful when takes to its wings. Wonders of photography - we can freeze it in midair and admire he details.
Next time I will work harder on minimal noise, better highlights and better focus.
fouramjava (89 months ago | reply)
This is a wonderful pic! Excellent capture. :)
jcowboy (89 months ago | reply)
An excellent, stunningly beautiful capture! Great sharpness and detail! I've tagged tis photo BRAVO and hope that you will post it to:
BRAVO
www.flickr.com/groups/thebestbravo/
ElseKramer (89 months ago | reply)
well done! I've never seen a stork from above before, fascinating...
anyjazz65 (89 months ago | reply)
Absolutely a fine catch. And so rewarding too when your hard earned skill and patience pays off.
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thanks to all the visitors who have done much for encouraging me.
Elsekramer - I was in a watchtower and had a good topdown view of the lake.
Special thanks, jcowboy.
MalayalaM - Thanks for the link to your pictures. I liked the one with the white ibis and the one with many of them standing on the tree.
Alan - Thanks for noticing and mentioning the twigs in his mouth.
sadalit (89 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous. & for me there is something particularly special about birds when they are nestbuilding. I love this shot.
Cilest (89 months ago | reply)
!!!!
Momentary Lapse of Vision (89 months ago | reply)
magnificent bird and photo!
BRAVO
martytdx (89 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot - great view of this colorful bird!
amaw (89 months ago | reply)
INCREDIBLE image!!! Beautiful details and colors, PERFECT!
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thanks a lot folks.
imajane (89 months ago | reply)
Amazing!
Jeff Clow (89 months ago | reply)
A superb nature image....!
VERY nicely done....!
SouthernBelladonna (89 months ago | reply)
wow...excellent shot!
tawfique [deleted] (89 months ago | reply)
wow!! nice shot..congratulations!
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thanks a lot my friends for the appreciation.
kaycatt* (89 months ago | reply)
Super shot!
baby7 (89 months ago | reply)
Very nice catch...
bosorka [deleted] (89 months ago | reply)
This is a lovely bird the colours are striking!!
Rthee (89 months ago | reply)
Impressive, indeed.
Brilliant focus, and colour.
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thanks kaycat, baby, bosorka and Aarthy.
small fry (89 months ago | reply)
What a wonderful shot of a spectacular bird. When I look at the curve of the wingtip feathers I can almost hear the swoosh of its wings. And I love the smug expression as it carrries home the twig.
Pandiyan (89 months ago | reply)
Thanks small fry. It is nice to read your expressive comments in the stream.
Jimmy_Joe (89 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous!
CharlesLam (89 months ago | reply)
Amazing capture, it looks like U are flying with it!