NATIONAL ZOO 2009 ~ PART 1

Well DaveKay has made the annual trip to National Zoo and is sharing the trip with all. First stop, (one of DaveKay's favs) is our boy Tai Shan.

Ever notice that no matter how expensive the gift is, kids really like the boxes, lol.

Then off to see those beautiful flamingos

Snack time

OK, I admit it, I can't find the email that was sent after the photos so I have no idea what birds these are but they are cute.

I do know what this one is though. (Seems to me I got real up close and personal with one once, lol)

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Images courtesy of DaveKay.

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Thanks DaveKay for sharing all your exciting trips with one and all. I, for one and I'm sure I'm not the only one, will more then likely never get the chance to visit these places and your sharing your trips enables me to 'see' many more places.

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Looking forward to our next 'trip'. SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE !!

NATIONAL ZOO VISIT ~ PART III

Hello!

Sorry about the delay, but I'm finally getting to you the next installment of our trip to National Zoo. This one's for the birds!

Especially the flamingos - they are truly one of the most colorful and graceful of the large birds. I had never seen one really up close, except for the plastic ones you see on front lawns! Believe me, these birds are gorgeous! And LOUD!

I never realized they could raise so much of a ruckus! In addition to the adults, I have included some chicks, too.

I saw these chicks on the camsite when they hatched, so it was neat to get a live update on them.

We learned that hatching flamingo chicks in captivity is somewhat rare, so the National Zoo has been blessed with at least three of them!

In addition to the flamingos, I have added a shot of the original "Fruit Loops" bird, the toucan. Talk about colorful!

I have some additional shots that I am going to prepare for another installment - for future viewing!

Hope you enjoy these!

Later...

DaveKay

Images and story courtesy of DaveKay

Sure looks as if you had a wonderful time at the Zoo and I'm sure all are looking forward to the next set of pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to our next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE !!

NATIONAL ZOO VISIT ~ PART II

I have another batch of shots from the Zoo trip. Going through them, I didn't realize that I had taken so many pictures! Judging from the volume, there will be more than two installments, I guarantee! So, here is the next series, with captions:







Ellie eye. You know how I am with my ellies - I don't like showing them penned up or behind fences, so I took a picture of the most expressive part of my friend...






Lion-maned Golden Tamarinds. It's hard to tell in this shot, but they are about the size of a fox terrier - and twice as fast! (I love their coloring - gorgeous)

Meerkats.

My favorite little creature!

A Meerkat photo op!

What a face!

(I was thinkin that very same thing LOL)

An "orang" on the "high-wire"!

A young male silverback- gorgeous!


Up close, and pensive...

A different species of zeb from the ones on the Drives.

So that's it for Chapter 2! Hope everything fits! ~

DaveKay

Images courtesy of DaveKay

Once again your talent shows through loud and clear. These are just awesome shots. Thank you for sharing them with all of us. Looking forward to part III.

Looking forward to out next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE

NATIONAL ZOO VISIT

I'm sending you the first installment on our visit to the Zoo last Saturday. I thought that I would start with the target of our visit, Tai Shan. Remember two years ago when all I got was one shot of Tai Shan sleeping in a tree? I made up for that this year - I got a total of 50 shots of all three pandas. Of course, to be honest, two years ago, the Panda Habitat was in the process of being rebuilt, and it was raining at the time of the picture. Also the inside area was closed to the public. What a difference two years makes! It's a gorgeous place now, with all the amenities of an actual Chinese mountain retreat. The pandas seem quite happy, and are always out and about for everyone to see. Mei Xiang was under the weather, as she is, hopefully, expecting a little one any time now.

The first shot is one of Mei Xiang, laying on her favorite rock ledge in the interior habitat. She was in out of the heat, and the only reason there's only one picture of her is because she never changed position for the ten minutes we were there!




The next four are of our buddy, Tai Shan. He's a big boy now, and, just like his daddy, is eating constantly! He's outside in these shots.

The last two shots are of Tian Tian, the daddy. He chose to stay in the cool atmosphere of the interior exhibit area while he pursued his favorite past time, eating...

Like I had mentioned, the crowds in the Panda House were like the Paparazzi, pushing and shoving in order to get that "perfect" picture! BTW, the reason I don't use flash in these shots is that I would get a specific "burn" area right in the middle of the shot, which ruins it. I wonder how many shots have been discarded simply because of using the flash?
Problem is that it's too late to correct once you get home...

Images courtesy of DaveKay

Looking forward to the next installment of your National Zoo trip DaveKay. And as always, great shots ! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

Looking forward to out next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE !!

BROOKEFIELD ZOO

Well I've gone and done it now. Purchased a Membership to the Zoo, which means we'll be going lots. LOL I'll try not to overwhelm everyone with just Zoo pictures though . First up this trip ....



The Polar Bear

Who said only kids have fun in the water

We stopped in at the Camels



How's this for a profile

Came across this Raffie. Unusual horns ...

it appears that instead of next to each other, they grew in front and back of each other.

Guess what Daughter's very FAV is, LOL

Ut oh, must of been naughty








Good gravy, forgot to flip this one sorry. Please tilt your head to the left, thank you.

Just had to get pictures of this. As the sign says Cookie has been at the Zoo since day 1. What a sad day it will be when he passes.

Well that'll do it for this trip.

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Looking forward to out next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE

BRONX ZOO

"Aw, give me some"

"I'm sulking"

"OK, I'm outta here"

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Images courtesy of Eleanor

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It’s a very good habitat — huge, and varied — there’s even a small waterfall where I saw one of the adult apes sitting on a rock and cupping her palm to catch the water for a drink. I go and look for hours and end up with lots of photos.......

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Thanks for sharing Eleanor

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Looking forward to our next 'trip'

SAFE TRAVELS EVERYONE