Chobe River
Botswana

IUCN: Listed on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as 'Least Concern'

Study 2 of 2 - Thriving Birds of the Chobe

Image Story:


Early evening on the Chobe River.


We have been watching this beautiful stork for 30min as it fishes in shallow water, in the warm evening light.


The surprizing thing here is that as photographers of wildlife, we have plenty of time and opportunity.


As usual, we are looking for something a little different or out of the ordinary.


At the very least, I am trying to capture the stalk either stepping forward with one foot out of the water, or perhaps the arc of drops from its bill to the water as it jerks its head up. Or it may possible with a bit of luck to capture an image of the moment the stalk throws back a fish it has caught, from the end of the spatulate bill into the throat or oesophagus. When this happens side on to the camera, with its mandibles open the fish is in mid-air on its way back.


The stalk takes off at one point only to land some 100m further down the river...still in this gorgeous light. So our Pangolin Host Danielle Carstens signals our boat to reposition appropriately. With a skilled coxswain/driver this Pangolin specialist photography launch easily manoeuvres into place.

Just how many images I took of this bird, I really dont know - but certainly over 500 ref electronic shutter at 20 frames/sec.


At the time I really did not realize that in one frame, I was lucky enough to get not only the stalk throwing back one fish it had caught, but a second fish as well that was rising out the water just in front and to the right of it. These are the things we are hoping to discover when via the post capture sorting process.


Pure luck - serendipity!