Flamingoes?

[Sunset tripper]

Two poor quality pictures taken through a dirty train window in southern Portugal close to the Spanish border, from a couple of weeks ago. First time I've seen them in the wild though, so good to see.

[Alteknacker]

Oh! I opened this assuming that the sighting had been in the Highlands....

[CharlesT]

Oh! I opened this assuming that the sighting had been in the Highlands....

Allegedly this was taken at Loch of the Lowes earlier this year.

It was dated 1 April though.

[Bearded Wanderer]

To a point this is a process of elimination.

There are only a limited number of families that are the right shape and that are found in Iberia. They aren't cranes, which leaves us with the herons (including the egrets), storks, spoonbills and flamingoes.

In practical terms (shape, colour, size, behaviour and distribution) we're down to three species, all of which are found in an area in the south of Iberia, near the Spain-Portugal border.

It's plausible they're great egrets (Casmerodius albus). Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) also fits, but having tried magnifying the photo they aren't quite the right shape. Of the few that I could make out the neck shape, the flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) comes closest.

So yes, some at least were probably flamingoes.

It may also have been a mixed flock. All three of the above are found in the same place, in an area not far from Huelva through towards Faro.

Hope that helps.

[Caberfeidh]

If it looks like a flamingo and quacks like a duck, it's probably a wildebeeste. In a flamingo outfit. They're pervy that way.