Frankie the flamingo chick news 2025

Frankie hatched on the 1st July 2025, the very first flamingo chick to hatch on the nest and be reared by its parents at Paradise Park.

Frankies blog with photos and videos is below. Parents Edwina and Anthony are also the parents to Derek who was hand-reared in 2019. It’s lovely that Derek has a brother or sister. We will not know if Frankie is male or female for a while yet.

LIVE WEBCAM
You can also view our live webcam HERE. If you don’t see the flamingos in the lagoon area much during the day then the best time is either early morning, or in the evening when some of the flamingos return to the lagoon for the night.

Come and see Frankie and save £1 pp using code ‘PARADISE’ up to to 24th October 2025. Onsite Free Parking.

The latest FRANKIE news is at the top, so to see when Frankie hatched, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

29th September 2025
Frankie posing for the camera!

28th September 2025
Edwina, Anthony and Frankie, family photograph 🙂

25th September 2025
Frankie growing up!

Below is dad Anthony
Fascinating to see how much pink colour flamingo Anthony has lost while feeding young Frankie. He was obviously the main one feeding and almost white!
This is due to the special red liquid called ‘crop milk’ they produce which is rich in carotenoids, and provides essential nutrients and pigments so Frankie will develop well and get that lovely pink colour. In the wild, the carotenoid pigments come from their diet of algae, crustaceans like brine shrimp and insect larvae. Our group has a diet designed for flamingos, a floating pellet which they relish and includes everything they need, plus they forage in their lagoon area for natural algae.
Frankie is now feeding on solid food and filtering the water in the lagoon, so her parents will stop producing the crop milk and they will gradually gain their rich pink/red colouring again over the next year.

15th September 2025
Here she is, Frankie feeding in the lagoon while her flock have a snooze. A little moment of peace.

14th September 2025
The DNA test results are in. Is Frankie a boy or girl?

31st August 2025

A close up of Frankie feeding.

26th August 2025
Below is a very cute video of clips showing Frankie’s progress so far. Enjoy!

25th August 2025
A very casual looking Frankie.

21st August 2025 – FIRST VET CHECK
Vet Paul Hall gave Frankie a first vet check, and he is happy to report that all is progressing well, Frankie is in very good condition and a good weight. Frankie was very calm, being expertly held by ‘Head of Softbills’ Becky Waite who commented “This was an ideal opportunity to take a tiny blood sample which is now zooming on its way to be DNA tested to finally find out if Frankie is a boy or a girl. We will know the result in a week or so when we will do a big reveal.”

A very calm Frankie being held by Becky.

What lovely shades of grey and pink showing. Posing for the camera!

20th August 2025
Frankie being fed by dad Anthony. Will not be long before Frankie starts on solid food.

17th August 2025
Look at the pink feathers showing through on this close up photo by Josh Ryan Murray.

14th August 2025
The youngest and the oldest. Frankie pictured with Alan who is 37 years old.

14th August 2025
In full stride!

13th August 2025
The joins in with the flock and makes a cute jump.

11th August 2025
Frankie is really enjoying filtering the water in the muddy lagoon. You can see the beak is bent downwards much more now making it easier. And stretches a wing where you can see more development and the black edge feathers starting to show.

Is that pink feathers showing already?

4th August 2025
In this photo you can see the first feathers developing, known as pin feathers that are encased in a protective sheath of keratin which protects the growing feather and its blood supply as it emerges from the skin.

3rd August 2025
Frankie posing for the camera!

1st August 2025
Frankie trying to have a snooze and preening during a quiet moment.

30th July 2025
Frankie is cute from any angle!


29th July 2025
Frankie relaxing with the flamingo flock.

28th July 2025
Frankie has made another leap in size in the last couple of days, and see the wings developing in this video clip from Josh Ryan Murray.

Really can see that the colour change has started as Frankie is about to go through the grey phase.

25th July 2025
Frankie examining the sprayer.

24th July 2025
Frankie is really getting the hang of filtering the water… can even do it standing on one leg!
Video clip by Josh Ryan Murray

23rd July 2025
Do watch this cute clip as Frankie gets the zoomies! Many thanks to Scott and Nicky Goodchild for sharing their lovely video with us x

Really beginning to see Frankies character, and in both the photos below, you can see the white is not so white anymore, as it starts to transition to grey, which is the next stage before we start to see hints of pink appearing in a couple of months. Photo bt Josh Ryan Murray

Below: Frankie having a morning rest. Photo by Director Alison.

21st July 2025
Looking like there is grey now under the Frankie’s feathers, so the begining of the ‘grey phase’.

20th July 2025
Notice how the beak is just begining to bend downwards  and will be a little while yet before it develops enough for the chick to be able to feed and filter through like an adult.

The photo below is the one that was posted on 21st July to announce that the winning name for the chick was FRANKIE!

18th July 2025
Mum Edwina is feeding the chick with dad proudly watching.

17th July 2025
In these photos you can see the special red liquid known as crop milk which provides essential nutrients for the flamingo chick’s growth and development before it transitions to eating adult food. Photographs by Josh Ryan Murray

17th July 2025
How big! In the last couple of days the chick has grown so much it is almost too big for the mud nest!

15th July 2025
It’s time to ‘DO THE FLAMINGO STOMP’.
The flamingo chick has learnt to stomp its feet in the water to stir up food from the muddy bottom of the lagoon. I’m sure the little squeak the chick gives mum Edwina at the end is saying ‘did you see me do that!’

14th July 2025
Standing up to its full height, the flamingo chick is two weeks old.

13th July 2025
Director Alison captured this photo showing the chick now beginning to sleep on one leg just like the adults. The chicks’ legs are looking very grey almost black in colour which is all part of process, although of course some of this may be mud!! The inset photo shows the chick from a week ago with pink legs. They will eventually go pink again, but there is a big ‘grey phase’ which the chick will go through first, and we will be posting to keep you updated as things develop.

12th July 2025
Look at how big the chick has grown in its first 12 days. Also starting to stand on one leg for a few seconds.
Video clip by Josh Ryan Murray

11th July 2025
The flamingo chick got the zoomies and Director Alison managed to capture this photo.

10th July 2025
The little chick is already learning to go through the motions of filtering the water like its parents, although it will be a while yet before the beak gradually curves downward as it matures developing the filter-feeding capabilities of an adult flamingo. Initially, the straight beak is used to receive crop milk from its parents and later for feeding on larger food particles.

9th July 2025
BELOW: It is so noticeable how much bigger the chick is getting every day.
These photos are by Josh Ryan Murray

8th July 2025
BELOW: Flamingo chick pictured with some of the flock on the lawn. By Manager Ray

BELOW: Edwina is master of feeding her chick while standing on one leg!

7th July 2025
The chick is now brave enough to venture out of the lagoon with it’s it parents and onto the flamingo lawn with the rest of the flock.

BELOW: Dad Anthony feeds his chick the special high energy red liquid known as crop milk which is crucial for the first weeks of the chick’s life before it transitions to eating adult food.

6th July 2025
BELOW: Mud glorious mud! Chick is much strong and exploring it’s surroundings.

BELOW: Feeding from mum

4th July 2025
FIRST BIG ADVENTURE! This is a bit of a longer video but well worth watching all the way through. This is the first time the chick has been encouraged to get its feet into the muddy lagoon by its parents and is then led safely back to the nest for a rest. Big thanks to visitor Laura Herbert for sharing her video.

3rd July 2025
BELOW: Legs getting stronger

BELOW: First time out of the nest

BELOW: Exclusive clip – The chick struggles a little to climb back up for the first time, but does manage it and snuggles up with mum.

BELOW: Resting with Dad.

2nd July 2025
BELOW: Edwina and Anthony are staying right with it, one in charge and the other nearby except for going off to feed for a short while. We are now seeing the chick make little efforts to stand on its chubby pink legs.

DAY ONE – 1st July 2025
Chick stands for the first time just hours after hatching.

Chick still very shaky in the nest.

This wonderful photograph shows Edwina feeding her chick a special high energy red liquid known as crop milk which is crucial for the first weeks of the chick’s life before it transitions to eating adult food.

BELOW: Both parents Edwina on the nest and Anthony on the right, with their new chick.

BELOW: Chick hatch early in the morning and was visable to visitors when they ariived at 10am.
Still with egg-shell in the nest. The chick looks good and healthy.