One more visit to Santa Maria to visit these extraordinary flamingos.
We will be heading home to Canada in a few days and I wanted to see them one more time.
We are actually on a bike trail near the salt pans so off to the side, and out of the way we go.
Two majestic Grey Herons just landing as I photographed this flamingo.
So grey and dark out here on the salt pans....which makes the flamingo stand out that much more.
Looks like the flamingo was telling a joke....Is he laughing??
Just like the Beatles......on Abbey Road.
"Free as a bird,
It's the next best thing to be,
Free as a bird."
One of my favourite little seagulls in the background. So cute.
Another Grey Heron on the left of the photo which I actually didn't see when taking the photo.
It looks so huge.
Getting prepared to take flight. Incredible colours.
A Great White Egret hiding in the bushes. Many, many are here in these salt pans and muddy areas feeding.
Below is a sad story but with a happy ending.
Deb and I heard the flamingos calling in their 'Canada Geese' sounds....and it seemed like they were in distress or scared?
As we got closer, I zoomed in with my camera, and to our horror the baby flamingo was caught with fishing line wrapped around it's neck. Oh my gosh....so horrible to see.
The big pink flamingos all stayed near it, but of course there was nothing they could do to help.
Deb decided no matter what, mud or water or whatever, she was going over to try to help it.
I followed and we made our way to the shore beside it.
The poor wee thing barely tried to flee when we got close. It was exhausted. We had no knife to cut the line so we got the sharpest stones we could find.
The fishing line was stuck on top of the ditch as well as under the water.
I didn't know if we were going to be able to save it or even help it.
Desperate to cut the line, we both kept on them until they broke.
Deb was prepared to get into the water, but we knew it was like quick sand mud and didn't have any idea how deep it was near the shore.
The flamingo was free but actually didn't know it yet.....but Deb did try to encourage it to come closer to remove it from around it's neck.
It didn't.....and then it flew off as soon as it could.
I feel that the amount that they clean themselves, the flamingo will be able to shake it off.
That's what we are going to believe.
After he flew off so did his family of flamingos.
Bye buddy....be safe...
What an incredible experience seeing these majestic birds......thank you until next time!!!
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