flamingo ?

[rossy]

last night 6.45 ish i was out in the back garden , and looked up , in the distance i could see this solitary bird, which looked like a swan, but as it passed overhead , i could clearly see a hooked beak and those long trailing legs, has anyone else heard or had any reports of one, a flamingo ? it was heading from east to west, east being the pennines, rossy.

[~T~]

Only think I can think of is a spoonbill though you did say hooked beak so maybe not.

[Dogghound]

Did you get anything else on it like colour?, wing colours? size? leg colour? height?

[aeshna5]

There's often 1 or 2 escaped flamingoes knocking around + they often hang around for some time, so it's certainly possible- any more clues as to plumage such as any pinkish tones.

[rossy]

the light was fading as it passed over, but it was lightish coloured plumage, thought i was seeing things, and i hadnt been drinking ! only coffee. it was continiously chattering as it went over if you get what i mean, but very quietly, large wingspan,slowish wingbeat, long neck, and the flight was of flamingos id seen on the tv. hope that helps. rossy.

[aeshna5]

I guess all you can say is a possible !

[Rye]

Where do you live? Bare in mind there is a Sandhill crane knocking about on the East coast at the moment.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Rye

Where do you live? Bare in mind there is a Sandhill crane knocking about on the East coast at the moment.

This was roosting in Suffolk last night ( as well as previous) so no this bird. Also bill is a different shape + darker than described.

[Dogghound]

Did you see any black in the wing (primaries and secondaries). The call is more similar to a high pitched goose.

[Littlesparrow]

Years ago there use to be a colony of flamingos living on the Cliffe marshes in kent, I don't think they exist now but it does show it is possible for escape birds to live in the wild for sometime.