Some More Photos from Marwell Zoo

I have posted a few more photos from our Zoo trip. Marwell is not a big Zoo, but many of its animals are threatened with extinction in the wild. They have several successful breeding programmes and part of the entrance fee includes a donation to a conservation project .This year it is for the Cheetahs.
In the Encounter Village you walk through small enclosures where the animals are very close. It was lovely to see the little Joey peeping out of his Mother's pouch and to be able to get so close to the Tamarins.

More Photos From Marwell

Golden Lion Tamarin
Meerkat
Ring Tailed Coati
Sulawesi crested Macaques
Rhino

A Visit to the Zoo

I know Zoos are a controversial topic,and I have mixed feelings. I love to see the wild animals but accept that Zoos are not always able to provide the right environments for them.Sadly many animals are so threatened in their native lands that Zoos play an important role in breeding and conservation.
Yesterday we went to Marwell Zoo for the day. it was dull and overcast and at times the conditions were not the best for photography but we enjoyed the outing Todays Photos are of the Big cats we saw.

Marwell Zoo

Amur leopard
Amur tiger
Cheetah
Snow leopard
Amur Leopard

Signs of Spring

Finally signs of Spring are appearing. After walking the dogs this morning we had a coffee with Jean and admired the flowers in her beautiful garden. jean has a wonderful collection of Hellebores. Sadly the sun was not shining but I hope to go back when it is. Her crocuses and snowdrops are also giving a wonderful display.

Snowdrops
crocuses
Hellebores
Hellebores
Hellebores

Finally a Woodpecker!

I have been waiting for ages to get a decent shot of a greater Spotted woodpecker. We were given a tip off that the campsite at Denny Wood was a good place to look. Today was our fourth visit and finally we got him, In fact there were a pair. The really annoying thing was that on our last visit we were busy watching some birds a little way in the woods when another birdwatcher asked us if we had got the Woodpecker that was sitting on the gate where a few minutes before we had been taking pictures of tits and nuthatches. Now I want one of him just a little closer!

A Trip To Eyeworth Pond.

Today we took a trip to Eyeworth Pond. The sun decided to shine on us and we spent a couple of hours taking photos. One of the resident ponies likes to try and get the bird food and he can be a bit of a nuisance. Here he is having a laugh as he tries to drive us away from the food. We counted 14 Male Mandarins on the pond , but only 5 females. However the females are less easy to see at a distance so there may be more. it was very pleasant to enjoy the sun whilst watching the birds,.

female mandarin Duck
Male mandarins
Nuthatch
Bluetit
Forest pony with his eye on the bird food.

Bird watching at Denny Wood

Today karen and I decided to find a new location to feed and watch the birds. We drove to Denny Wood campsite and soon found a suitable location. There were plenty of birds around and we soon had some visitors to our nuts and seed. I really like this photo of a chaffinch against the sky. We had the usual tits and finches and it was good to actually get two nuthatches in the same photo. Although we didn't see a greater Spotted Woodpecker today we know they are around and we hope we will see one on our next visit. After the cold of last week and yesterdays rain we sat in warm sunshine today. Spring may be on its way!

Robin
A pair of Nuthatches
marsh tit
Coal tit
Bluetit

A Snowy Saturday Walk

As we drove up to the Forest this morning the world gradually turned white again. We went to Cadmans Pond . before we started walking I put some seed out for the birds they are really hungry and they flew down and started eating before I had finished spreading it along the log. Then we set off on our walk. The dogs had great fun . At one point a few fallow does ran across the path but they were too quick for me to get a photo. We did see their tracks several times as we walked through the crunchy snow. When we got back to the pond we watched the sun slowly melting the ice and the ducks seemed pleased to have some water to swim on. The birds had eaten all the seed and nuts so before we left I put some more down. I also finally got some pony photos. They had been hiding on our previous visits but they had come out from under the trees to warm up in the sun.

Yes We had some Snow!

On Monday Morning we awoke to a beautiful white world. Lots of snow! The dogs had a wonderful time and we slithered along the roads admiring the snowy landscapes. Today the Snow has gone from the garden but there is still plenty in the Forest and a chance of yet more to come.
Raffles really enjoyed it and he still looks very healthy despite his dodgy blood work and the bladderstones. We are hoping that the special diet will soon start to work and dissolve them

Hungry Robin
track to the carpark at cadmans Pond
The pond is frozen
The lonely Scots Pine at Bratley View.
bridge at Kings hat