Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Pretty Flamingo

A few weeks back, I visited the Var estuary bird sanctuary with my new camera.
The area is called 'la petite camargue' since it is like a very tiny version of the Camargue , an area of river delta and salt marsh , further along the coast.

Its an odd little bird sanctuary, sandwiched between a huge shopping centre and the airport with the river in the middle , but its a very important stopping off point for migrating birds.


While I was there, I was quite privileged to see two Greater or European flamingoes flying in.
I didn't get any photos of the birds of the birds in flight but I was able to watch them land while I fumbled taking my camera out of my bag.

The flamingoes were slightly off course on their migration trip from North Africa back to the Camargue.
One immediately retreated into the reed beds, but the other stayed in the open.


They have such amazingly flexible necks - they manage to twizzle into snaky 's' shapes with ease.

I find it hard to see flamingoes and not think of Alice and Red Queen playing croquet -even though I know they are just quietly filtering plantkon out of the water with their peculiar-looking beaks.




The flamingo flew over to the reedbeds , nearer to its companion. The reeds grow to an amazing height and its really difficult to see anything once it has penetrated beyond the first layer.


The flamingo fluffed up briefly, showing off its bright pink feathers.
I'd love to go to the Camargue at some point and spend some time viewing [and photographing] the giant flocks of flamingoes . That is definitely something on my wish list.

4 comments:

Caroline B said...

Wow, aren't you lucky! I'd love an opportunity like that, flamingoes are some of my favourite birds (my Etsy shop is called Pretty Flamingo!!). If you would ever consider passing on those photos to me as the basis of a painting, I'd love you forever!!!

Magpie Magic said...

Fabulous pictures. Flamingoes are just fab - they almost look 'stylised' and fantastic and I can see the Alice in Wonderland reference with their weird necks and beaks and their long legs. xo

Alison Ashwell said...

I'd be really honoured if you could use them Caroline .
I'll contact you about it later today

alison

Samantha@ Living In The Sun said...

fantastic pictures of flamingos, I try to take photos like that, but they never seem to come out as if you were still at the place they were taken. I admire your skill.

Best Regards Sam