Greater Flamingos - Port Elizabeth

[Roberto]

Anybody photograph the Greater Flamingos at the Cerebos saltpans next to Coega on the N2? Drove by this morning and there are literally hundreds of them. Every time I pass by!

[WayneB]

When I was a kid we lived on the banks of the Swartkops river and there used to be hundreds of them on the sand islands in the middle of the river. I noticed when I went to PE a couple of times over the last few years they don't seem to be there anymore. I guess they have moved to the salt pans now. I'm glad to hear that they haven't disappeared completely!

[Piet Venter]

I saw quite a number of them at the salt pans when I drove past at around 3 pm yesterday afternoon.

[Roberto]

Thanks very much for the feedback guys.

Looks like a good photographic opportunity there either from your car or with a hide, 500mm minimum I would guess.

[Luc Hosten]

Coega is probably the safest spot to photograph them but you need to arrange permission to drive around the pans. Think it is run by Cerebos. The other place is around Swartkops but security is a problem. Long lenses are required. Lots of other interesting species from Avocet to Chestnut Banded Plover are also seen in the pans.

[Roberto]

I have just telephoned Cerebos and was informed that because salt is a mineral their business is immediately classified as a mine so the whole safety issue thing comes into play. They did mention that they could possibly be accommodating however this would require personnel to be present at all times on their watch.

They did mentioned that they have discussed making pathways for the nature people but its the rule breakers that worry them.

Apparently there are people that do go there but illegally.

Damn!

[Luc Hosten]

Wait a week or two and try again. They don't like vehicles on the roads between the pans because people get stuck or cannot reverse long distances. There is a road to the right of the pans that used to run past the entrance and used to lead towards the rivermouth before the harbour was built - it used to fall outside of the pans area but the pans used to protrude beyond the fence. I have not been there for a long time but it could still be viable. Also irritating is that the flamingos prefer a certain salinity and feeding conditions so the conditions in the pans determines where they mostly feed. Security in the whole area (especially near the harbour) is thorough and you will be questioned. Oh yes slowing down along that section of the N2 gives me the creeps - it is a high accident zone.