Stunned stork gets nasty surprise when cheeky crocodile steals its lunch

This stork looked like it was about to lose more than its lunch as a crocodile’s jaws came within inches of its head.

The yellow billed stork was fishing on the Siwandu lake at a game reserve in Tanzania when it spotted the head of a tiger fish floating in the water.

Looking delighted with its catch, the hungry bird was about to tuck in when a crocodile swooped and snatched the fish right out of its beak.

In this stunning series of images the croc came within inches of the stork - and in one image it looked like the stork may have soon become lunch itself.

But, happy with its catch, the content crocodile left the stork to continue fishing.

Photographer Mark Sheridan Johnson captured the images at the Selous Game Reserve, where he works as a safari guide.

Mark, 35, said: “I noticed the Stork was playing with something in the water, it turned out to be the head of a Tiger fish.

"While playing with the fish head the stork attracted the attention of a young crocodile, who came swimming in at speed to steal the bird’s dinner.

"Once the croc had the fish, the stork realised the battle was lost, so decided to carry on fishing near the crocodile.

"These birds and crocs live in general harmony, but sometimes the crocs do kill them.”

(all pictures credited to Caters News Agency)