Meercats
Blackpool Zoo

Otter
Blackpool Zoo

Comfy cat

Comfy cat again

Pelican..Blackpool Zoo

" Arthur "

"Great Tit"

" Go on, give us a kiss !! "

"No it does'nt mean us !! "

"I'm so worried about things these days"

New arrival with Mum

" Louis "

Old Square Eyes (Louis)

Grey Squirrel

Pigeon

"Sleepy Swan"
EE14

Graveyard Cat

New version, Background by courtesy of Chefziggy.

New version, background courtesy of Chefziggy

"Nobber"

Alternative crop of "Old Square Eyes" on Mount

Me and the Missus (A day out in the country)

Interested Seagull

Posing for the photo

On a recent trip to Blackpool Zoo I arrived at the Seals feeding time and this Sealion and the Sea Gull in the previous picture had a routine going that I got the feeling they had been doing for some time.

This seal seated himself on a large slab of rock by the side of the pool and every time he was thrown a fish he barked twice and nodded his head twice. His pal the seagull perched on a post approx 1 metre from the seal and immediately after the seal barked he cried twice and also nodded his head twice. He then flew directly at the seals head who ducked just enough for the seagull to just miss him, flew a circuit around the pool and returned to his post. They both continued this routine all through the feeding, and on returning over two hours later for the next show they were both doing exactly the same again.

I can understand the seals part in it but can't really see what the seagull was getting out of it, the feeling I got was of two very practiced and professional performers and the seagull taking the part of the pretty girl in the conjuror's act who prances and points to the conjuror after the completion of a difficult piece of magic. I left with an image in my mind of them at the end of the day sitting down and sharing a fish sandwich and a pint and discussing what sort of day it had been and the quality of the audience that day !! (I really must get out more )

Heavy crop from original.

"Go travel forth"

Harris Hawk

Crashed and burned

Swansdown time

I tell you son this tooth is killing me!

Next doors cat really looks a lot bigger lately

Alright lads I want a good clean fight, no pushing or gouging.....................

Pelican Eye

Dig this handsome face!!

.............and full face.

For those who have enjoyed these two pictures of the Mandarin Duck, he has made another visit to the pool and I was able to take a few more pictures. Hope you all enjoy them.

More pictures to follow

Mandarin Duck
11th March 2010

Mandarin Duck
11th March 2010

Mandarin Duck
11th March 2010

Doing the soft shoe shuffle!


Taken using Fuji Tele. converter

Taken using Fuji Tele converter

All feathers neatly folded!

Waiting for the Eggs to hatch

A Hen called Rose

Cold Feet

Proud Mum and Chicks

Refreshment time

On Guard

A fine figure of a duck

"Honestly, the fish was that big!"

"I've got my beady eyes on you Airman"

This pigeon looks so much like a Drill Corporal I remember from Square bashing days!!

Portrait for 2012 No1

"The Mandarin in B/W"

1st Place TOP TEN

Current Rating 6th

Swan image

Duck in untidy surroundings

After doing the housework !

Lady-taken on iphone 3gs

Best to view on medium.

"Hiding in the long grass"

17th place

Interested Seagull

Da, de,dar da,da!

If looks could kill !

Killer Pigeon ?

"Are you talking to me, ARE YOU TALKING TO ME!!"

Weird looking back leg on this Bird

The Lake Ashton Monster, looks like a cross between a Duck and a Hippopotamus !!

(No, just a Duck tying itself up in knots.

Is this an animal coming towards you or a duck going away?

Answer is :- Neither

It is a duck facing towards you with his head ducked into the water!

Challenge # 198 "Open Category "Opposites
Black and White and Colour
7th place

Having a laugh!

Swan in the fading light

Baby Duck

(That is a drop of water on the end of his Beak by the way, not his lower jaw!).

Cheeky eh! Just wait until I clap my hands.

Screw neck image

Abstract flight

On the Roof

Spring Pigeon

Blackbird taking a bath- 1of 2 images

Swan on her nest

Contortionist Swan !

Headless bird!

Young Heron

Lunch time

Young Heron

Baby Moorhen

Well dressed Pigeon

Baby Moorhen

At the molten lake

Bedtime

" Lunar"
My best friend Stewart's dog , miniature Dachshund and Poodle mix.lovely nature,wish she was mine!

Double Ducks

Take off

He's always fussing about how he looks and he's got a bigger rock than me!!

Moorhen

The shadow that looks like a dogs head with teeth is purely accidental !

Just love this sunshine

I have grown a pattern on my chest!!

I wish this water would warm up

For the last.four years the female Swan takes to this nest but I have never seen any young!

Dad always keeps guard.

Moorhen on nest

Approaching Squirrel

Inquisitive Grey Squirrel.

Still on the nest

Success at last !!

Cooling off !

All alone !!

Moorhen

Morning snooze

Young Swan

Young Swan portrait

Sleepy times

Moorhens

Not a hole in the ducks body with the water showing through, but the colour of the feathers matching the colour of the water in that one place!!

Tied up in knots !

In the early morning sun

Shy Female Duck

Darn it, I've got to give up smoking these things!,

One legged, shrunken Headed White Duck(only joking !)

Last of the Swans ?

The Iceberg

Caption suggested by a ex teacher that I met and talked with by the lake in Ashton Gardens, St . Annes on Sea

" I've got my lunch but now I don't want it".

Bottoms in the air.

Fast asleep

cooling off!