As with most things, it often takes a few attempts to get the desired result and the Wood Storks at Brazoria NWR were a prime example this year. After breeding season, the storks from Mexico start to wander in search of prime foraging habitat eventually making their way to the shallow ponds at the refuge. As the water evaporates prey is concentrated making the storks unique feeding technique much more effective. During June and July, I made several trips to the refuge and observed as many as 100 storks but they always were so far from the auto loop that the resulting photos never had the detail I was really after. Finally, I showed up when the feeding conditions near the road were ideal and to my delight there were several individuals within a few yards of the road, open beaks sweeping back and forth in the water. Before I could get into position a car drove past scattering storks in all directions. Armed with the knowledge that birds are creatures of habit I settled in to wait for them to return. For two and a half hours I enjoyed the breeze blowing through the grass and watched stilts, herons and ibises feeding nearby. This time patience paid off when four storks wandered close enough for some frame-filling images. The refuge is an amazingly peaceful place, it’s one of my favorite places to sit and think while waiting for photo opportunities.

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Mycteria americana