Flamingo Reflections!

We had a lovely lone visitor paddling in our bay last week, a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus).While they are very prolific in Velddrif, a coastal town about 30 kms from us where salt pans produce huge piles of salt for the local Cerebos company, this is the first one that we have seen here. And all alone! It seemed very happy as it went about its business, but I felt sad for it all by itself.

Our lonely visitor (Pics thanks to Rob)

They are the most widespread of the flamingo family and are found in Africa, southern Asia, southern Europe (including Spain, Albania, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy and the Camargue region of France. They are also the largest and average 110 - 150 cm tall, but most of that is legs! For all that height, they are not very heavy, averaging between 2 and 4 kilos. Our cats are twice that weight! Even the smallest one!

Beautifully posed for Rob!

They reside in mudflats and salt water coastal lagoons. They stir up the mud with their feet and then eat 'upside down', sucking water through their bills and filtering out small shrimps, seeds, blue-green algae, tiny worms and mollusks. In amongst all the research I did (you didn't think that I knew all that data did you?) I was amazed to read that they can live up to 60 years in captivity. In fact, there is a Greater Flamingo in the Adelaide Zoo in Australia that is at least 77 years old! Happily their worldwide status is 'least concern' but apparently nesting in South Africa is extremely rare. I wonder why? Our coastal waters are not that bad surely?

Rob took the stunning photos of the Flamingo, and I just love the reflection in the water. But, the photo below is my favourite even though Rob was going to delete it.

Movement and beauty.

The Flamingo took off but by then the light was fading and the camera could not capture the image clearly.

To me, it's the best photo of all!