The flamingos have arrived.

They were far off as the growth has started to overtake the lake again.

The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is the most widespread and largest species of the flamingo family. Common in the Old World, they are found in Northern (coastal) and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Subcontinent (south of the Himalayas), the Middle East, the Levant, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe.

The greater flamingo resides in mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons with salt water. Using its feet, the bird stirs up the mud, then sucks water through its bill and filters out small shrimp, brine shrimp, other crustaceans, seeds (such as rice), blue-green algae, microscopic organisms (such as diatoms), insect larvae (such as chironomids), and mollusks. The greater flamingo feeds with its head down, its upper jaw movable and not rigidly fixed to its skull.

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Look how bright the sunshine was, as this heron crossed overhead. During summer last year I walked to the center of the lake, as it was all dried up.

This was all water a few weeks ago, but now the grasses have covered it.

Okay, now let's have a look at the flamingos in the photos below.

We love to see how they turn their necks to sleep, but the one at the right almost lost its balance.

Further back on the lake was another string of sleeping flamingos.

So, these at the front started waking up, as you will see below.

Some ducks were also starting to move to another spot on the lake.

It is a real wonder to see the birds in the wild, untouched by human hands, and just to stand and watch their beauty. Slow gracious movements as if they have all of the time in the world to do their thing. It makes me think of the human race, and our impatient rushing around to get things done. Twice now we were almost forced off the road in our car by drivers that overtake us in the face of oncoming cars. Yesterday was the latest incident, and the funny thing is that we stopped right next to culprit at the red traffic light. So, I gave the driver a piece of my mind and the excuse was that he is in a hurry. Maybe he must be chained in a chair and forced to watch the slow style of the flamingos for a few days, or weeks.
Such is life.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

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