I was on my way to Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs to look for the flamingo that has been hanging around the beach there for a few days. Random wild flamingos were showing up all over the Tampa bay area. They had been blown in during Hurricane Idalia as it passed by us. It was dark and cloudy but it looked like it was breaking up and the sun was going to come out. When I first got to the park the sun was coming up and I could see a little bit of blue sky.

I immediately found the juvenile flamingo. He was on the back side of the beach island with a bunch of shorebirds.

I got out of the car and sat down on a grassy area. I was glad I had brought my 500mm lens because he was far away and I wanted to stay in the parking area. At first I was the only one there.  Later a few other people showed up but everyone stayed far back.

He (or she) was beautiful. I thought he was much prettier than the bright pink adult flamingos. That pale pink on the face with the creme beak was perfect. Eventually the beak will turn white and pink. It was a little sad that he was all alone. Where were his friends? Will he meet back up with them if he heads south for the winter? So many questions. People were saying they hoped the flamingos would stay but they really belong in south Florida (around the keys) and the Caribbean.

He flew close by and headed to the other side of the tiny beach. This was all I could fit in my lens as he went by.

He hung out for a while with the cormorants.

Above is a short video of him feeding. They move their feet in the water to stir up the stuff on the bottom. They eat algae, brine shrimp and any other tiny plants or critters in the shallow water.

He had 2 short feeding sessions then settled in for a nap so I left.

The sun never did come out while I was there. It was just as well since I would have been shooting straight into the sun if it had been shining.