White Stork Ciconia ciconia

A common but declining species in much of Europe, White Storks are rare visitors to the UK. Their exact status is difficult to ascertain as escaped birds from collections, some of which are free-flying, are frequently encountered. Due to their size and conspicous colours, many of those storks that do turn up in Britain (either as wild vagrants or as escapes) are tracked as they progress through multiple locations across the country. The following photos are all from their normal breeding range in southern Europe and Turkey.

White Stork, Quinta do Lago, 15-Apr-06 White Stork, Quinta do Lago, 15-Apr-06

White Storks, near Quinta do Lago (Algarve, Portugal), 15th April 2006

 

White Stork, Mertola - Castro Verde, 25-Apr-06 White Stork, Mertola - Castro Verde, 25-Apr-06

White Stork, between Mértola and Castro Verde (Alentejo, Portugal), 25th April 2006

 

White Stork, between Mértola and Castro Verde (Alentejo, Portugal), 24th April 2006

 

White Stork, Mertola - Castro Verde, 25-Apr-06 White Stork, Mertola - Castro Verde, 25-Apr-06

White Stork, between Mértola and Castro Verde (Alentejo, Portugal), 25th April 2006

 

White Stork, outside Nemrut Dagi Milli Parki, 15-May-10 White Stork, outside Nemrut Dagi Milli Parki, 15-May-10

White Stork, just outside Nemrut Dağı Milli Parkı (Turkey), 15th May 2010

 

White Stork, Goksu Delta, 9-May-10 White Stork, Lavau-sur-Loire, 26-Jun-09

White Stork, Göksu Delta (Turkey), 9th May 2010

 

White Stork, Lavau-sur-Loire (Loire Atlantique, France), 26th June 2009

 

White Stork, Castro Marim, 1-May-06 White Stork, Castro Marim, 1-May-06

White Storks, Castro Marim (Algarve, Portugal), 1st May 2006

 

White Stork, Ludo Farm, 1-May-06 White Stork, Mourao, 21-Apr-06

White Stork, Ludo Farm (Algarve, Portugal), 1st May 2006

 

White Stork, east of Mourão (Extramadura, Spain), 21st April 2006

 

White Stork, Mourao, 21-Apr-06 White Stork, Mourao, 21-Apr-06

White Storks, east of Mourão (Extramadura, Spain), 21st April 2006

 

White Stork, Ludo Farm, 1-May-06 White Stork, Viguerat, 6-May-99

White Stork, Ludo Farm (Algarve, Portugal), 1st May 2006

 

White Stork, Viguerat (Bouche-du-Rhone, France), 6th May 1999

 

White Stork, Marais d'Yves, 14-Jun-09 White Stork, Marais d'Yves, 14-Jun-09
White Stork, Marais d'Yves, 14-Jun-09  

White Stork (and Grey Heron), near Marais d'Yves (Charente-Maritime, France), 14th June 2009