A tall Wood Stork chats to his short friend, the Mottled Duck, in our Florida backyard.
(When I saw this couple, the phrase. “The long and the short of it”, immediately sprang to mind. I then got to wondering how long this cliché has been around for, and was surprised to learn that “The short and long of it” has been in use since around the year 1500. Shakespeare used it four times in his plays. The earliest published source for the actual phrase ‘the long and the short of it’, is from a work by William Walker in 1690. I find it so amazing that we still use phrases from hundreds of years ago.)
To join in this challenge and to see other entries, visit Charlotte at ‘Prairie Birder’.
what lovely neighbors!
Very apt AD 😀
Thanks, Chrispy. 🙂
Actually life so beautiful, do not matter with whom ,such as always you have an perfect photo for the theme Sylvia, fantastic!
Thanks, DellaAnna. So glad you enjoy my photos. 🙂
What a dream of a photo.Fantastic!
Thanks, Marylou. 🙂
Gorgeous light! Loving your bird shots Sylvia.
Thanks so much, Madhu. 🙂 I’m looking forward to getting back to the beautiful Florida birds.
Isn’t Google just an amazing resource. I wonder if there is any thing you cannot get an answer to! I am just catching up again after a 5 week absence Sylvia, at my last visit you had just sold and were busy packing. Have you arrived in Florida yet?
I so agree with you, Pauline. Google is a trillion times better than the encyclopedias we had in the olden days. We are in the final throes of moving out of our house here. We’ve been busy sorting out stuff to give away to the SPCA, my sister, my daughter, the gardener, the handyman etc.. The next two weeks are likely to be very traumatic, so I may not be around much. We’re renting a house for a month until we return to Florida in September. Hope you’re enjoying being back home again. Great to see you again. xx
Great pic (and pick for the challenge), Sylvia 😉
Thanks, Dianne. 🙂 xx
What a lovely pair….out for a sunny stroll together putting the world to rights 🙂
Thanks, Seonaid. Yes, I’m sure you’re right. 🙂
I will never forget my first sighting of a Stork! I believe they are beautiful! Great shot!
Thanks, Sheila. Yes, they are gorgeous birds. 🙂
Oliver and Hardy of the avian world..:-)
Have a great weekend..
Thanks Ed. You too. 🙂
Lovely picture, Sylvia! Perfect for the phrase 🙂
Thanks so much, Lola. 🙂
Nice catching of the long and short. Was the long actaully following the short one?
Thanks, YC. I think the stork was stalking the duck. 😆
Great catch of these two having their chat. Sounds like you might enjoy Bill Brysons’ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29.The_Mother_Tongue for some wonderful antics about our ‘mother tongue’. 😀
Thanks, Gunta. The book sounds like a fascinating read. I really enjoy Bill Bryson.
How cool to learn where the phrase comes from, thanks! Great pic too, that stork must be able to catch some serious fish 🙂
Thanks, Gilly. Yes, that beak looks like a lethal weapon. 🙂
Thanks for the little bit of history, Ad. 🙂 Looks to me like the little fella is saying ‘go away- I’m trying to get 40 winks!’ 🙂
Yes, you’re right again, Jo. The duck looks to have his eyes closed, but I’m sure he felt the stork’s presence. 🙂
He is certainly proud of himself. Great photo
Thanks so much for your visit and comment. Glad you enjoyed the pic. 🙂
This is a great photo, Sylvia and proof that being different doesn’t mean we can’t get along in peace. ☮
That’s the long and the short of it! 🙂
Thanks, Gemma. You’re absolutely right, of course. 🙂
A perfect picture to illustrate this cliché 🙂
Thanks, Colline. 🙂
That’s such a great shot Sylvia! They look so cute together. Great post hon! 😀 ♥ Hugs ♥
Thanks so much, Sonel. 🙂 Hugs to you too.
Love the wood storks around here…we often see them around the canals in town. 🙂
How lucky you are to see so many of these gorgeous birds wandering around. I only ever saw this one in our back yard. 🙂
So cute this, lovely photograph Sylvia. Have a lovely weekend 🙂 xx
Thanks so much, Sherri. You too. *hugs*
😀
Now I’ve learnt something… I thought that saying was a fairly newish one…
Glad I could put you right, bulldog. I often look up things like this on Google, and get a surprise. 🙂
I thought it would fit perfectly as an oddball. 🙂 Wonderful light on the water.
Yes it would, Sue. Thanks. 🙂
lol perfect! chances are they ‘both’ probably thought that too 😉
Hehehe. Thanks, Andy. 🙂
You’re so welcome! it’s a fun post 🙂
Thank goodness it’s only a Wood Stork and not a “baby” stork ;-).
I’ll second that, Pussycat. 😀