White Stork is a widespread but declining species which
breeds in the warmer parts of Europe. Sightings have
increasingly occurred in Britain making White Stork an
annual visitor to the UK with around twenty or so records
each year; mainly during the spring and summer. It is a
strong migrant wintering in tropical Africa. The name Stork
comes from the Old English word 'storc' and the
Proto-Germanic word 'storkas' and is thought to be a
nickname which simply means 'stick'. White Stork often nest
on houses where it is seen to adopt the characteristic pose
of standing on one leg or, 'standing on its stick'.
There have been four White Storks reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
2010: (2) HIGHEST COUNT 2
Two were seen in flight heading south over Northwick Warth
on September 12th. This occurrence constitutes the first
Severnside record. (Brian Lancastle)
White Storks at Northwick Warth. September 2010. Brian
Lancastle.
2007: (1)
One possibly this species was reported in the Pucklechurch
area on November 4th.
1971: (1)
A
presumed adult was reported on May 23rd from the Hallen/
Compton Greenfield area. This occurrence constitutes the
first report of this species in S. Gloucestershire.