Photographers in San Diego know that a wonderful secret exists in the southern reaches of the San Diego Bay.  With the ocean on your west, there is only a thin strip of road called “The Strand” that separates the ocean from the wetlands, which host an amazing assortment of water birds, from skimmers to osprey. There is one particular feathered friend that dazzles and surprises.  Yes, we play host to a wild flamingo. He is a brilliant shade of pink with a wingspan of nearly five feet and has made himself at home in the expansive shallows between the Cays and Imperial Beach. The locals have given him several names, but Pink Floyd, or simply “Floyd” seems to have stuck. 

I first saw Floyd around Valentine’s Day in 2018 when I was biking down the strand.  I thought it funny that someone had stuck a plastic lawn flamingo in the shallows and didn’t give it more than a passing thought.  A few days later, I passed this ornament again, but it seemed to have been moved.  Perhaps it was just the rising tide?  On my return ride up the Strand, I spotted the flamingo and I swore it had moved yet again.  This time I stopped to get a better view.  Sure enough, it briefly spread its wings and I knew then that this was no lawn ornament! A flamingo must have escaped the Marriott. 

Rangers from the South Bay National Wildlife Refuge checked the Marriott, the San Diego Zoo, The Wild Animal Park, and even reached out to colleagues in Mexico, but nobody was reporting a missing flamingo.  Floyd’s origins have remained a mystery.  The decision was made to leave Floyd alone as he seemed to be doing well.  Fast forward four years and Floyd looks pinker and healthier than ever. What’s even more exciting is that in late August, a second flamingo was spotted hanging with Floyd!

Because Floyd moves around a lot and he is usually seen quite far from the bike path, there are few good pictures of him.   This year, I decided to do something about this.  I set out with my camera, a 500mm lens, a 1.5x lens extender, and my most sturdy tripod.  I chose an early morning with no wind and left home before the sun would be a factor.  Luck was on my side, as I spotted Floyd just north of the small parking lot for the Wildlife Refuge.  I parked the car and humped my gear back to where I had spotted my subject, going out on the marsh as far as possible without sinking. 

I was able to get close enough to capture a number of shots of Floyd standing around; pretty, but not that exciting.  Then my luck really turned on.  A flock of geese to the south took off in mass flying past Floyd.  Our dear friend lifted his head, spread his magnificent wings, and decided to join them. Now I venture you are a lot like me in that I had never seen a flamingo fly before.  What a sight: somehow both awkward and majestic at the same time!  Floyd and his flock of geese made three wide circles before settling down in a new spot further out into the bay, but not before I was able to capture this aerial flyby. I hope you too can enjoy the secret of Floyd either in person or by these images.