Gould recorded that the Black Stork, a migrant, was an occasional visitor to Britain.

In its search for food Gould recorded 'it wades deep in the water and kills its prey by shaking and beating it before swallowing it. When about to fly, the Black Stork takes one or two short leaps, and when alighting skims a short distance before touching the ground, and places its wing feathers in order before it moves further.'

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds Iberia and France eastwards to Sakhalin and north China; also southern Africa. Most of European population winter in tropical Africa. Rare though regular vagrant to Britain with increased number of records since 1976 coinciding with the northern spread of breeding range in France