Portugal and Spain have extensive wildlife reserves,
sheltering flamingos, black headed gulls and many other birds!
Tagus Estuary is the largest reserve in Western Europe,
and one of thirty natural protected areas in Portugal.
Fuente de Piedra Natural Reserve in Malaga Spain is known for it’s flamingos.
To mark the last day of our trip, we escaped the bustle of Lisbon,
and spent the day exploring,
enjoying the blooming flowers,
and belly dancing in little town of Alochete Portugal!
We are home at The Holler now, but it is still, cheers to you from Portugal & Spain~
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What you always share is more than beautiful! The images you capture reflects the beautiful spirit which has made a lasting home in your heart! Nature smiles with every shot you share! Have a lovely Sunday Cindy, and thanks for sharing your gift!
All the best to you my dear friend Wendell! Thank you for your thoughtful words. People like you are why I so love blogging! Be well and happy weekend Wendell~ <3
Beautiful photos. We were on the Rhône delta in 2103, but the mistral winds had set in so we had steady 60 mph winds blowing sand on the beach and making it difficult for the poor flamingos.
Seeing flamingos for me is always a big thrill, but 60mph winds would be too much air in my sails! Can’t imagine the poor flamingos~
So gorgeous these birds are almost unreal. Delightful
They are too pretty to believe aren’t they, lucky birdies!
The flamingoes and poppies are so beautiful – welcome home!
Thank you Eliza. I’m happy to be back with The Holler hummers and all the other birdies!
🙂 I bet you are, there is no place like home!
<3
I really liked the ruuins, would have liked to explore them… did you get up and do any belly dancing, to keep the “bod” limber…. you headed back to the holler?
We are ensconced now in Holler-dom. I cannot dance and belly dancing requires skills, and bravery, I do not posess! I like to watch it though~
Why wouldn’t one leave Lisbon altogether and live forever in Alochete! Amazing photography as always. Is it the expense of your camera, or are you an absolute natural – one out of the bag?! One day we shall meet, and I shall ask for a lesson!
Alochete has the most interesting pronunciation in Portuguese. It sounds a bit like my favorite swear-word. It was a charming little place and the whole town was out for the fair. I agree with you. Lisbon is an incredible city, but nature’s peace cannot be beat!
Squeeeee! Flamingos! And you got such beautiful close-ups of them. <3 Welcome home!
I love flamingos! I love it when they fly and I love their eyes! Thank you, it is good to be home~ <3
Those flamingos are amazing! So beautiful!
You can see why women have traditionally worn bird feathers as adornments. We want to look as good as them!
We wish! 🙂 But it’s usually the male birds who are colourful, isn’t it?
Oh wow! they truly are beautiful! 🙂
They are such beautiful birds!
That they are 🙂
The flamingos take the first prize!!
I think they expect it!! 😉
Welcome home!!! Thank you for the remarkable journey!!!
You are so much fun to travel with Rebecca! You make the trip a richer experience~ <3
Cindy, those close-up photos of the flamingos make me want to reach out and pet them! What a treat to get out into the more relaxed areas of Portugal. Those old buildings are full of charm. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you more for the thoughtful appreciation. We love our birdies don’t we Lynn! <3
Amazing photos of the flamingos Cindy! What an interesting trip to Portugal 😍
Enjoy being home!
It is good to be home. I think may even have missed me! 😉
Lovely, Cindy. The colours are so vibrant. I would loved to seen the belly dancing.
Leslie
The belly dancing took us completely by surprise! They were having a fair in the little town and we just joined in.
I love your pictures of the flamingos. The plastic flamingos on front yards were such a disservice to those graceful birds :-D. They really are so beautiful!
Those plastic ones are terrible aren’t they. Flamingos are amazing creatures. Their presence makes every photo pretty.
When I lived in CT there was a about a year where plastic flamingos were landing in a pond off the highway. It was kind of fun to see the flock growing. Some prankster was having a wonderful time.
I’m ‘birdwildered’ by the beautiful flamingos! ⋋║ ՞ ▽ ՞ ║⋌
Tee hee hee! I am too! <3 ⋋║ ՞ ▽ ՞ ║⋌ <3
Cindy, I absolutely love flamingos. beautiful pictures, reminded me of last february when they were, on their yearly route… Ash
I wish they were on my yearly route! I love them too.
A feast for the eyes!
From you, talented one, an honor~
oh my……
I enjoy coming into yr post cos the photos are really beautiful
Awww, that makes me happy. Thank you.
Beautiful…:-)
Abrigada!
Your camera sings Cindy!!
Awwwww, so kind! <3
Gorgeous shots as always..love the poppies!
We don’t have red poppies, so they thrill me when I see them!
Welcome home and thank you for this amazing tour, Cindy! Flamingos symbolize beauty, balance, and grace and so does your photos. <3
I didn’t know they symbolize these things. Thank you for telling me. It certainly makes sense.
Lovely photos
Muchos gracias~
I’ve been trying to catch flamingos and get close in several places – Mexico, Morocco, Spain… Never came close to photos such as these. Well done, they are beautiful!
Thank you. You are traveling! That is quite wide path you have traversed. I hope it happens soon and would love to see the results!
Awesomeness! So so beautiful. Thank you Cindy.
Ahh, so kind!
Astonishing pictures, so beautiful, Cindy. I am sure you had a good time there and enjoyed a lot. But Portugal and Belly Dance? I would not have expected it. 🙂
There is such a strong Moorish influence in Portugal and Spain. It influenced architecture, tile design, music and dance. So lovely. But, I admit, the belly dancers had me hopping out of the car before it stopped!
great!
Lovely. Flamingos are my favorite birds. Your pictures are wonderful.
They are so graceful and their coloring is varied and lovely. I can see why they are your favorites~
Ein Traum, danke für die geteilten Blickfänge!
Ich bin so froh, Sie genossen sie und danke!
The flamingos are beautiful!!!!! I am glad that you are home safe and sound! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hugs back to you two and happy weekend!
I was not aware flamingos were in Portugal. Aren’t they amazing?
I find I am looking for birds wherever I go, and sure enough, I find them! <3
Yes, and you are really good at finding them, Cindy!
Same here in Florida! We developed so much of the state that the only flamingos you see are at preserves – sad. I’ve watched as years went by, less and less wildlife in the state.
That is so sad because Florida has such amazing flora and fauna. As ecosystems fail, so will we.
Being as we are usually the cause of the problem, it will probably be our demise.
Yes. Sad, but true~
Nice pictures. Love those pictures of flamingos. They look like ladies getting together and talk.
They do don’t they, bridesmaids all dressed up for a wedding!
That is even better!
<3
These are wonderful shots, Cindy. 🙂
If you like them, I am happy Ranu~ <3
Nice shots of far away.
I’ll bet one of them is called Floyd. 🙂
It’s amazing you know this!
🙂 Ah but everybody knows Pink Floyd 🙂
Not everyone surely, mostly us oldsters! Can you believe it?
Only when I try running upstairs. 🙂 So I avoid it. 🙂
It’s the running downstairs that concerns me! 😉
What beautiful photos!
Abrigada!
Wow! Gorgeous! ALL OF IT!!!
Very happy you enjoyed and happy Saturday~
Great photos! I was so pleased to see flamingos. In 2006, we went to isla flamingo, in the Bahamas and I expected to see thousands of them. Unfortunately, they’d been devastated by bird flu and the sanctuary was closed to visitors … I did not see a single flamingo down there.
That is so sad! You must have been crestfallen~
Absolutely … I’d had such high expectations, then not even one bird flying overhead – mega emotional crash!
A field of poppies, I mean seriously isn’t that the most beautiful sight ever. I just love them.
It certainly is for me. We have sheets of gold California poppies, but these red ones I only see in Europe and I love them too~
Welcome Home!! Cindy, these flamingos are stunning — my fingers are twitching to pet their long, soft necks. And the color just pops, doesn’t it?! Thanks for letting me travel vicariously!
I love traveling with you Debbie! You make the experience more fun~ <3
What a nice thing to say — thank you!!
<3 <3
Welcome home and thanks for sharing a bit of your journey. Although cities are wonderful, it’s great to get out into the countryside.
Yes, it is like filling your lungs with oxygen after holding your breath, such a relief!
How wonderful. The flamingos are so beautiful.
Aren’t they wonderful! I also love the sight of flocks of them in flight~ <3
Oh, I just love flamingos so this would be heavenly! I’ve never heard of it before but made a mental note now – hopefully will get a chance to visit – and see some belly dancing. It’s not audience participation, is it?!
No audience participation required thank heaven. Taking photos saves me from such embarassing possibilites! 😉
Great photos again Cindy! As you know we have the flamingos here as well from April through September. Perhaps you will catch shots of them on your next trip through… 🙂
We will be in France next year!! Woo Hoo!
Wonderful Cindy. Where do you plan to be? Next year, it almost sounds far away but yesterday was Christmas and it is already June… 😉 x
I know, I thought exactly the same thing as I wrote this to you! We are making changes in the trip now, but so far we will be in Alsace. Tell me again where you are?
Flamingos are always up for a bit of photography, Cindy, and your telephoto captures them beautifully. Too bad the belly dancers weren’t performing that other great dance of the region, then you could have titled your blog: Flamingos and Flamencos. 🙂 –Curt
Tee hee hee! That would have been an awesome alliteration~
🙂
Your photos are beautiful. 🙂
You are very nice! <3
gli aironi fiammeggianti sono quanto di più elegante e bello possa offrirci la natura, ce ne sono anche da noi negli stagni della Sardegna, li hai inseriti in un contesto davvero magnifico, complimenti
Sono felice che li ami troppo! Grazie applausi a voi~
What stunning photos. Those flamingos are otherworldly with there unique coloring. You take in so many wonderful, natural sites. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you more for your very kind appreciation~
What a lovely thing to say.
Stunning photographs of flamingos! Wow.
They are highly photogenic, lucky birdies!
Beautiful pictures as always, Cindy. I enjoyed seeing these. 🙂 — Suzanne
I am so pleased you enjoyed them Patricia and happy Sunday to you~