Chester Zoo Chester 2011 #1
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karoocheetah
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c'mon Rob do you NEED an excuse...?
mine for this saturday is "ooo there is a Y in the day.....think I'll go to the zoo..."
c'mon Rob do you NEED an excuse...?
mine for this saturday is "ooo there is a Y in the day.....think I'll go to the zoo..."
Best excuse
I'm waiting until the 26th March before going again 
- can I really last a week 
Javan Rhino; said:Best excusekaroocheetah; said:
I'm not able to get down an as much as I'd prefer at the minute with my father travelling, and I've only managed to attend a measly 3 out of 11 Sundays so far in 2011. I'm not back there until the 26th either although that is for one of the juniors events...
Just for info - a 16-years old female Campbells guenon, that came from Chester to Jihlava in 2009, has given birth to a healthy baby now. Both are doing fine.
Link with a pic
Link with a pic
That's excellent news - she had just given birth to a stillborn youngster when I visited last Spring.
I didn't know whether a new thread was justified for this, but will play it safe and post about my visit here.
We arrived between 11:30 and 12:00 since we were off to Chester retail park to pick up a pre-order first. Massive queues, so fast-tracked through to the entrance. Of course, we went straight to the porcupines/gemsbok/lechwe/roan to try and get a glimpse across the paddock. Nothing, and I must say I was a little disappointed but it was expected around midday. One thing that amazed me was the almost subtly form of enrichment, with several lechwe keeping a keen lookout on the wild dog enclosure - just like a lookout in the wild [Attachment 1]. On the way though I saw one of the West African crowned cranes in the pelecan aviary - I don't know if it was one of the pair from opposite Tsavo, but only saw one crane in there so I assumed so. No idea why they were separated if this is the case, anybody have any clarification?
After an unsuccessful few mins looking for the dogs, we went up and around the zebra and sitatunga paddocks - first time I've seen both zebras on the paddock for a while and was a pleasant suprise. They may be a little ABC, but there is something good about seeing a zebra. The leucistic jackdaw was in the sitatung paddock.
Passed around via the spectacled bears which was a real treat. A group of people around the enclosure promised something so I said 'bears must be out - unless there's all that fuss for a coati.' - turns out both bears and several (if not all) coati were around the waterfall, all in close proximity. Was a treat to see coati so near the front (attachment 2).
Passed around to the bats bridge, admired the Philippine spotted deer and looked at the Visayan warty pigs on the way up and crossed. Saw one quick glance of a cheetah whilst going over the bridge but didn't bother seeking out further, and instead crossed past the anoa (not out/visible) and towards the lions.
In the lion exhibit, I was shocked to discover were several people in the enclosure - turned out to be a junior member's activity. Went down to the tragopans after and within minutes saw the Temminck's male display [attachment 3] (and saw the female for the first time) but couldn't get any good pics. We waited between 1 and 2 hours for it to do it again but to no avail. It kept bulking up and loosening the 'bib' as if it were about to but it just couldn't seem to continue the routine. What the male did do was follow every move that the Cabot's tragopan in the previous aviary made, both pacing up and down for a long while. The female also showed an unhealthy interest in the Cabot's (more so than the male Temminck's by the seems of things). Anyway, by 2pm I was starving and in a predicament - go and get some food, risking missing a display, or stake out the enclosure for another 2 hours and get grumpy I didn't see anything else. Luckily I had a level-headed ladyfriend to tell me to get some food
Alas, we decided to try one of the 6oz Welsh beef burgers on sale near the acorn/Roman Garden (hope these aren't temporary). At £4.50 each they won't be for every visit, but they tasted very nice and when you take a member's discount off it softened the amount a little.
After eating nice and quickly I planned to cut through Realm of the Red Ape the wrong way so it would bring us out right for Spirit of the Jaguar. I wish I hadn't set foot in the building though within seconds, it was like walking through a wall of treacle and you could hardly look at anything since the crowds around the viewing windows were unnegotiable, and looking into the vivs people with buggies etc just trying to get passed every few mins, just couldn't stop (though looked for the Asian tree toad in with the mountain horned dragons, again to no avail.
Zoomed through Spirit of the Jaguar but spent more time with amphibians than jags, getting a nice pic of the Chacoan horned frog [attachment 4] which was hidden away on all other visists but in plain view today (well, awkward for pics due to a branch, hence a close-up on the head) - a so far average zoo visit was turning interesting. Looked in the other amphibians and a nice picture of the mission golden-eyed tree frog [attachment 5] was a result. There was also a quick look into the eyelash vipers before cutting pretty much straight through the other half and doing what I call the 'forgetten corner' of the zoo (midwife toads [no amount of luck will bring them out into view], sand lizards etc). The plan was around there, through the back of Tropical Realm and then to giraffes/okapi.
For the first time ever, I saw Azara's agouti [attachment 6] in the blue-throated macaw aviary. I was amazed, looked into one of their 'hides' and saw suggestions and movement, then it ventured right out into plain view.
So, me now happier we went through the Tropical Realm. What was supposed to be a shortcut just to see the emerald tree boa became a decent lengthed visit to the building. Both Philippine crocs on land and perfectly visible and some of the upper aviaries seemed easier to photograph in. Also noticed that the red-and-yellow barbets [attachment 7] are now in one of the top aviaries whereas previously they were freeflight. They are in the first one in the row (that isn't the Congo peafowl aviary).
Spending too long in there meant that we didn't go through the giraffe/okapi houses and instead went straight over the bridge. Saw both pudu, no sign of either anteater. All normal there then. Moving towards the elephant bridge we saw the condors and black vultures enjoying a nice rabbit and some rats, then over the bridge for a few pics of the elephants and [finally] got around to photographing the Burmese brow-antlered deer [attachment 8]. Up past Asian plains and across through Miniature monkeys for a few pics of the golden-headed lion tamarins (posing nicely after a while). Filled my bigger memory card so had my 1gb back-up incase of hidden suprises.
Walked back past the dik-dik enclosure and back to the porcupines for a last ditch look for the dogs. Nothing to start with, and then a flash of movement so quick it could have been a blink. But then another, and another. The group were running back and too and, although my zoom wasn't brilliant so it is essentially dots in the enclosure, I photographed them [attachments 9 and 10: #10 cropped] I was made up and the zoo visit had become brilliant. A quick look at the baby porcupines and around to Tsavo before heading to the exit and the bus back.
Sorry for wasting everybody's time with that, hope there may be something of interest in there to make my ramblings somewhat relevant
We arrived between 11:30 and 12:00 since we were off to Chester retail park to pick up a pre-order first. Massive queues, so fast-tracked through to the entrance. Of course, we went straight to the porcupines/gemsbok/lechwe/roan to try and get a glimpse across the paddock. Nothing, and I must say I was a little disappointed but it was expected around midday. One thing that amazed me was the almost subtly form of enrichment, with several lechwe keeping a keen lookout on the wild dog enclosure - just like a lookout in the wild [Attachment 1]. On the way though I saw one of the West African crowned cranes in the pelecan aviary - I don't know if it was one of the pair from opposite Tsavo, but only saw one crane in there so I assumed so. No idea why they were separated if this is the case, anybody have any clarification?
After an unsuccessful few mins looking for the dogs, we went up and around the zebra and sitatunga paddocks - first time I've seen both zebras on the paddock for a while and was a pleasant suprise. They may be a little ABC, but there is something good about seeing a zebra. The leucistic jackdaw was in the sitatung paddock.
Passed around via the spectacled bears which was a real treat. A group of people around the enclosure promised something so I said 'bears must be out - unless there's all that fuss for a coati.' - turns out both bears and several (if not all) coati were around the waterfall, all in close proximity. Was a treat to see coati so near the front (attachment 2).
Passed around to the bats bridge, admired the Philippine spotted deer and looked at the Visayan warty pigs on the way up and crossed. Saw one quick glance of a cheetah whilst going over the bridge but didn't bother seeking out further, and instead crossed past the anoa (not out/visible) and towards the lions.
In the lion exhibit, I was shocked to discover were several people in the enclosure - turned out to be a junior member's activity. Went down to the tragopans after and within minutes saw the Temminck's male display [attachment 3] (and saw the female for the first time) but couldn't get any good pics. We waited between 1 and 2 hours for it to do it again but to no avail. It kept bulking up and loosening the 'bib' as if it were about to but it just couldn't seem to continue the routine. What the male did do was follow every move that the Cabot's tragopan in the previous aviary made, both pacing up and down for a long while. The female also showed an unhealthy interest in the Cabot's (more so than the male Temminck's by the seems of things). Anyway, by 2pm I was starving and in a predicament - go and get some food, risking missing a display, or stake out the enclosure for another 2 hours and get grumpy I didn't see anything else. Luckily I had a level-headed ladyfriend to tell me to get some food
Alas, we decided to try one of the 6oz Welsh beef burgers on sale near the acorn/Roman Garden (hope these aren't temporary). At £4.50 each they won't be for every visit, but they tasted very nice and when you take a member's discount off it softened the amount a little.
After eating nice and quickly I planned to cut through Realm of the Red Ape the wrong way so it would bring us out right for Spirit of the Jaguar. I wish I hadn't set foot in the building though within seconds, it was like walking through a wall of treacle and you could hardly look at anything since the crowds around the viewing windows were unnegotiable, and looking into the vivs people with buggies etc just trying to get passed every few mins, just couldn't stop (though looked for the Asian tree toad in with the mountain horned dragons, again to no avail.
Zoomed through Spirit of the Jaguar but spent more time with amphibians than jags, getting a nice pic of the Chacoan horned frog [attachment 4] which was hidden away on all other visists but in plain view today (well, awkward for pics due to a branch, hence a close-up on the head) - a so far average zoo visit was turning interesting. Looked in the other amphibians and a nice picture of the mission golden-eyed tree frog [attachment 5] was a result. There was also a quick look into the eyelash vipers before cutting pretty much straight through the other half and doing what I call the 'forgetten corner' of the zoo (midwife toads [no amount of luck will bring them out into view
], sand lizards etc). The plan was around there, through the back of Tropical Realm and then to giraffes/okapi. For the first time ever, I saw Azara's agouti [attachment 6] in the blue-throated macaw aviary. I was amazed, looked into one of their 'hides' and saw suggestions and movement, then it ventured right out into plain view.
So, me now happier we went through the Tropical Realm. What was supposed to be a shortcut just to see the emerald tree boa became a decent lengthed visit to the building. Both Philippine crocs on land and perfectly visible and some of the upper aviaries seemed easier to photograph in. Also noticed that the red-and-yellow barbets [attachment 7] are now in one of the top aviaries whereas previously they were freeflight. They are in the first one in the row (that isn't the Congo peafowl aviary).
Spending too long in there meant that we didn't go through the giraffe/okapi houses and instead went straight over the bridge. Saw both pudu, no sign of either anteater. All normal there then. Moving towards the elephant bridge we saw the condors and black vultures enjoying a nice rabbit and some rats, then over the bridge for a few pics of the elephants and [finally] got around to photographing the Burmese brow-antlered deer [attachment 8]. Up past Asian plains and across through Miniature monkeys for a few pics of the golden-headed lion tamarins (posing nicely after a while). Filled my bigger memory card so had my 1gb back-up incase of hidden suprises.
Walked back past the dik-dik enclosure and back to the porcupines for a last ditch look for the dogs. Nothing to start with, and then a flash of movement so quick it could have been a blink. But then another, and another. The group were running back and too and, although my zoom wasn't brilliant so it is essentially dots in the enclosure, I photographed them [attachments 9 and 10: #10 cropped] I was made up and the zoo visit had become brilliant. A quick look at the baby porcupines and around to Tsavo before heading to the exit and the bus back.
Sorry for wasting everybody's time with that, hope there may be something of interest in there to make my ramblings somewhat relevant
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Cheetah fan
Well-Known Member
On that front I haven't actually seen it since I posted the photos of it. So I am not sure if its still in the enclosure or been taken off show as I notice that one of the empty tanks further along has been emptied totally awaiting what I guess will be renovation for something to go in there.
And can I ask have the Porcupines been moved yet from there shed to new enclosure?
Not yet - they were in the shed yesterday.
'Javan Rhino' I really enjoyed reading your trip to the zoo
Thanks Red Panda
- I might actually start a blog about visits using a similar format, since it was enjoyable to write Out of curiosity, would anybody else be interested to read that if I start from my next visit (April 9th)? Won't just be for Chester, will be for all zoo visits and anything else relevant
AgileGibbon
Well-Known Member
I've already bookmarked it
Cheetah fan
Well-Known Member
My Zoo Visits and Life Lists - I've posted this in general discussion as well but thought I'd put a link here, since it is here I first mentioned the idea. When I update it I shall mention in the relevant thread along with a couple of key points
Good photo of the Painted Dog there
Cheetah fan
Well-Known Member
Good photo of the Painted Dog there
Thank you, could of cropped it tighter but it loses quality that way so thats the best I can do with a 300mm lens from the path in between Gemsbok and Lewche.
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