The 2025 Botswana Journals, Ch. 33 An Incredibly Rare Sighting and Photos to Prove It

(Remember:   Click on a photo, then click on a photo in the film strip to see the photos full screen.)

Bashi leans toward me as he drives through the sandy river bottom and asks softly, “Have you ever seen a black stork?”

Instantly, my mind is spinning.   Black stork?    Black stork?   Have I even heard of a black stork?

I’m lowly shaking my head.  I run through the black bird list—African Open-bill, Abdim’s.   Nothing clicks.

 

It isn’t only the question.   It’s a tone in his voice that I pick up on.  Later, I realize that the tone indicates that he was going to show us something very special, and he was mightily pleased to do so.

 

Up ahead, I see something black, but it’s so far away it’s difficult to tell what it is.   Then, as we move closer, it flies away.   So that’s a black stork, I think, not knowing then how unique it is to just glimpse a black stork.

“Maybe later we’ll get another look,” says Bashi.

And, we do!   Not only a fabulous look at the stork, which is actively fishing while a gray heron stands by, probably intent on stealing whatever the stork catches, or perhaps annoyed that the stork is fishing in its pond.   

Herons such as Great blue herons and gray herons often engage in opportunistic theft and steal from storks and spoonbills.    It's called kleptoparasitism and is common in the bird world.

African fish eagles steal from saddle-billed storks, and herons steal from spoonbills, also.   I've witnessed both.   Bald eagles are renowned for thieving.

I’m shooting with my 500mm lens at its maximum as we dare not get much closer.

Plus, these photos are cropped.

 

Again and again, the stork plunges its head into the water, using its wings to power each thrust.  

 

 

Again and again the stork comes up empty, water dripping from its head and long red bill.

 

Eventually, the heron gives up on the stork and leaves, but the stork continues to hunt.

 

Finally, it brings up something so tiny I can’t tell what it is, even after blowing up the photo.   

Later in the day, when I have access to a computer and WiFi, I learn it is exceedingly rare to not only see a black stork, but have the opportunity to photograph one.

 

These African black storks (Ciconia nigra) are the same species as black storks seen in Europe, though those in Africa tend to be residents, whereas the European birds are migratory.   It is possible that the bird we are photographing is a migrant.

Almost 40 inches from the tip of its beak to the end of its tail, with a wingspan up to 57-61 inches, it weighs 6.6 lbs.   Though widespread geographically, its true population status is unknown due to the rarity of sightings.

 

At any rate, I am thrilled beyond belief to get to see this large bird.   To paraphrase Clint Eastwood, it “made my day!”  

 Lifer, lifer!

 

 

 Note:   These photos of the black stork are on the memory card that went missing for 2-1/2 months.   I was very
 happy when I found that card.

 

 

 

Kori bustard.

There's an owl in that thicket.   Can you see it?   Neither could I.

There it is.   A well-camouflaged Spotted eagle-owl.

White-fronted bee-eater

A man-made dam on the river to hold water for various species.