Four Greater Flamingo chicks hatch at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre near Southport

Staff and volunteers at WWT Martin Mere are celebrating after 4 Greater Flamingo chicks hatched at the centre last week. Flamingos are a firm favourite with visitors, often displaying their courtship routines and getting up close to visitors, so the new arrivals are going to be a big hit.

The new chicks can be seen sitting on the impressive nests built by their parents. Unlike their pink parents, Greater Flamingo chicks are actually grey when they hatch and won’t get their pink feathers until they’re around two to four years old.

Centre Manager Nick Brooks said "We're thrilled to see the safe arrival of four Greater Flamingo chicks. It’s a tremendous achievement by all who help to look after our flamingo flock. Flamingos are very friendly and sociable birds, you can get very close to them here at the centre and it has been a couple of years since our visitors have been able to see flamingo chicks so we know they are going to be a huge hit.”

Martin Mere is home to around 60 adult Greater Flamingos and it’s exciting to see the flock grow in size. There are another 16 eggs on nests at the centre so staff and visitors will be eagerly watching over the next few weeks to see how many more hatch over the next couple of weeks.

Visitors are invited to come and see the adorable chicks for themselves this May and June. As well as the new arrivals, over May Half Term the theme is ‘Bugs’ and visitors can get up close to a variety of bugs and insects, take part in pond dipping, bug hunts and moth trap openings. In addition come face to face with GIANT bugs on and around our canoe safari.

Picture by Gary Gray