Yep, I've seen and photographed a female. Will post the picture of it and the Javan Green Magpies when I get back home
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo 2017
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Well the competition was won sooner than I expected hehe.Yep, I've seen and photographed a female. Will post the picture of it and the Javan Green Magpies when I get back home
Had a visit today to see the new extension in Islands:
- The Malayan Tapir outdoor is very nice, split into 2 (one for the male, the other for the mother and calf) and has a pool. The indoor is very impressive I thought, the large bark covered area has lots of places where the Tapir can sleep and a large mock rock wall of which the Tapirs can hide behind. The indoor also features a pool.
- The new aviary is brilliant, I saw every species in there apart from the Asian Fairy Bluebird and Asian Glossy Starling but I didn't worry too much as I see them quite often in other parts of the zoo. I saw the 2 Javan Green Magpies on a number of occasions and it was the highlight of my day when I was the only person in the aviary and the 2 Green Magpies were calling to one another.
- The sun bear enclosure is very impressive. There are 2 enclosures for each sun bear and a large indoor area. I was lucky enough to see the female ‘Millie' being fed and male ‘Toni' sitting by the window. The 2 sun bears were in together although Millie was showing Toni who is incharge.
- There are now some Question Mark Cockroach in the invert area if the Monsoon Forest and another tank has also been added but didn't have anything in today.
- Signage for Eyespot Rasbora and Bornean Tiger Barb have been added to Tomistoma/Turtle tanks.
- There is a transfer crate in the Binturongs indoor enclosure
- Himalayan Monal have moved from the aviary outside the Tropical Realm into the Collared Grosbeak aviary at the Rainbow aviaries.
- Moellendorf’s Rat Snake (Orthriophis moelleendorfi) have moved on-show in the former Parson’s Chameleon exhibit in the Tropical Realm
- White-rumped Shama and Asian Fairy Bluebird have now been labelled on the Temminck’s Tragopan aviary (Rainbow aviaries)
- The sign for the White-rumped Shama on the aviary at the start of RORA has been taken down.
- Royal Starlings are now also in the Tsavo aviary.
I will post my photos in the gallery in a second.
- The Malayan Tapir outdoor is very nice, split into 2 (one for the male, the other for the mother and calf) and has a pool. The indoor is very impressive I thought, the large bark covered area has lots of places where the Tapir can sleep and a large mock rock wall of which the Tapirs can hide behind. The indoor also features a pool.
- The new aviary is brilliant, I saw every species in there apart from the Asian Fairy Bluebird and Asian Glossy Starling but I didn't worry too much as I see them quite often in other parts of the zoo. I saw the 2 Javan Green Magpies on a number of occasions and it was the highlight of my day when I was the only person in the aviary and the 2 Green Magpies were calling to one another.
- The sun bear enclosure is very impressive. There are 2 enclosures for each sun bear and a large indoor area. I was lucky enough to see the female ‘Millie' being fed and male ‘Toni' sitting by the window. The 2 sun bears were in together although Millie was showing Toni who is incharge.
- There are now some Question Mark Cockroach in the invert area if the Monsoon Forest and another tank has also been added but didn't have anything in today.
- Signage for Eyespot Rasbora and Bornean Tiger Barb have been added to Tomistoma/Turtle tanks.
- There is a transfer crate in the Binturongs indoor enclosure
- Himalayan Monal have moved from the aviary outside the Tropical Realm into the Collared Grosbeak aviary at the Rainbow aviaries.
- Moellendorf’s Rat Snake (Orthriophis moelleendorfi) have moved on-show in the former Parson’s Chameleon exhibit in the Tropical Realm
- White-rumped Shama and Asian Fairy Bluebird have now been labelled on the Temminck’s Tragopan aviary (Rainbow aviaries)
- The sign for the White-rumped Shama on the aviary at the start of RORA has been taken down.
- Royal Starlings are now also in the Tsavo aviary.
I will post my photos in the gallery in a second.
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Good review MagpieGoose, but I do wonder if it is legal to use the word singing when talking about corvids.
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Very nice news about the Moellendorf's- Orthriophis ratsnakes are among my favourite reptiles
They have been on-show for over a 2 weeks now!!
well, thank you to MagpieGoose for posting this news in the news thread, then.
well, thank you to MagpieGoose for posting this news in the news thread, then.
Yes, thank you MagpieGoose. Late news is better than no news. I appreciate the positive contribution you are making to this community. I live 4 hours away so I rely on news being posted here to keep me updated.
Visited the zoo today in company with bongorob and SMR. We saw no birds in the new aviary in the morning, but SMR and I went back after 4.30 pm and saw the green magpies, although their aviary is very dark at this time of day. As everything was much quieter we also saw the emerald doves and glossy starlings and glimpsed both species of pheasant, the partridges and a laughing-thrush. I am sure the birds will be easier to see in September, when there won't be quite as many visitors and they will have had time to settle in. The aviary is nicely planted, but not very big and there is nowhere to sit down and watch, which disappointed me.
I liked both the bear and tapir houses, but I thought the bear paddocks were nicer than the tapir ones. I saw 1 sun bear and 0 Malayan tapirs.
As gentle lemur mentioned, the new aviary may seem empty as the birds settle in, but late in the day a little patience and the lack of visitors can pay off. It's reminiscent of the walk-through aviary at Jersey Zoo, not as large as one would think but well planted.
The tapir outdoor enclosure is nothing remarkable, but the indoor viewing is better.
The sun bear exhibit is the highlight, the inside is huge (for the visitors) and the indoor bear area a good size. The two outdoor enclosures are excellent, with great 'leading line' views.
Ian the volunteer will be delighted to hear however, that I most certainly have a "moan" to fulfil my place on his unfortunate list. Or rather, it's what I would prefer to describe as a non-sycophantic informed opinion. And that is:
The Javan green magpie aviary leaves a lot to be desired. It's small, dark and the roof is far too low. Magpies tend to be gregarious, inquisitive birds, as far as I'm aware they're not cave-dwellers. This is such an amazing bird to have on-show, it should have been an exhibit befitting a headline species.
The tapir outdoor enclosure is nothing remarkable, but the indoor viewing is better.
The sun bear exhibit is the highlight, the inside is huge (for the visitors) and the indoor bear area a good size. The two outdoor enclosures are excellent, with great 'leading line' views.
Ian the volunteer will be delighted to hear however, that I most certainly have a "moan" to fulfil my place on his unfortunate list. Or rather, it's what I would prefer to describe as a non-sycophantic informed opinion. And that is:
The Javan green magpie aviary leaves a lot to be desired. It's small, dark and the roof is far too low. Magpies tend to be gregarious, inquisitive birds, as far as I'm aware they're not cave-dwellers. This is such an amazing bird to have on-show, it should have been an exhibit befitting a headline species.
Visited Today, no new news to report.
Saw a Malayan tapir fully submerge in their new outdoor pool.
Saw a javan green magpie towards the back of the aviary, i'm assuming it was the younger of the two birds, as it seemed quite bluish. Was unable to get any decent photos.
I think I saw a raven flying over Islands; it was certainly a large corvid with a distinct diamond-shaped tail.
Phasma gigas are on display in the invertebrate room by the exit of the butterfly house.
Saw a Malayan tapir fully submerge in their new outdoor pool.
Saw a javan green magpie towards the back of the aviary, i'm assuming it was the younger of the two birds, as it seemed quite bluish. Was unable to get any decent photos.
I think I saw a raven flying over Islands; it was certainly a large corvid with a distinct diamond-shaped tail.
Phasma gigas are on display in the invertebrate room by the exit of the butterfly house.
Komodo99
Well-Known Member
Any luck with the blue legged mantella's?
I also visited today:
- Some switches around in the invert areas in the Monsoon Forest; Giant Atlas Beetle have replaced the Sumatran Rhino Beetle and the Malaysian Jungle Nymph are no longer there and the Orchid Mantis have moved over to the space where they were.
- Some of the fence on the old Anoa island has been done up. Presumably the Babirusa will return to it.
- Saw the Azara's Agouti in the round enclosure.
-The pool in the Blue-legged Mantella viv has been filled in with soil and covered with Bamboo leaves. Mantella still signed.
- The Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill male who was living in the Elephant house has moved back to the aviary in the Tropical Realm which had held Turaco until recently. A new pair of Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill are now in the Elephant house.
- The Omani Blind Cave Fish tank in the Aquarium is now filled with water and ready for the animals.
- Finally seen the Collared Partridge. Seen everything in the Rainbow Aviaries apart from the Asian Fairy Bluebird.
- Sumatran Laughingthrush and Cinnamon Ground Dove are now signed in one of the aviaries in Dragons in Danger although I didn't see either species.
- Saw the Asian Glossy Starlings in the new Islands aviary. Also saw both the Javan Green Magpie.
- Saw all the Sumatran Orangutans outside together today
- Some switches around in the invert areas in the Monsoon Forest; Giant Atlas Beetle have replaced the Sumatran Rhino Beetle and the Malaysian Jungle Nymph are no longer there and the Orchid Mantis have moved over to the space where they were.
- Some of the fence on the old Anoa island has been done up. Presumably the Babirusa will return to it.
- Saw the Azara's Agouti in the round enclosure.
-The pool in the Blue-legged Mantella viv has been filled in with soil and covered with Bamboo leaves. Mantella still signed.
- The Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill male who was living in the Elephant house has moved back to the aviary in the Tropical Realm which had held Turaco until recently. A new pair of Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill are now in the Elephant house.
- The Omani Blind Cave Fish tank in the Aquarium is now filled with water and ready for the animals.
- Finally seen the Collared Partridge. Seen everything in the Rainbow Aviaries apart from the Asian Fairy Bluebird.
- Sumatran Laughingthrush and Cinnamon Ground Dove are now signed in one of the aviaries in Dragons in Danger although I didn't see either species.
- Saw the Asian Glossy Starlings in the new Islands aviary. Also saw both the Javan Green Magpie.
- Saw all the Sumatran Orangutans outside together today
I saw both species. The doves are in the middle aviary with the male argus pheasant, and the laughingthrushes are in the long thin aviary at the back again.
Also in Tropical Realm, the Parson's Chameleon has been joined by at least one Collared Iguana (not currently labelled). Despite the modifications to the Blue-Legged Mantella, the visibility of its inhabitants has not been affected.
The new Islands exhibits are superb. The Malayan Tapir exhibits are simple but effective, with good viewing and an excellent indoor area. The aviary is also impressive - I agree with the comparison to 'Jewels of the Forest' at Jersey - and I think the criticism of the magpie aviary has been somewhat harsh (it is surely an improvement on the lory aviary by the Bali Mynah walkthrough).
The Sun Bear exhibit, as has been mentioned, is the best of the lot. The viewing areas are spacious - a welcome change from the more congested parts of Monsoon Forest - and the exhibits themselves are spacious and eyecatching. It reminds me in some ways of London's 'Tiger Territory', and it's a pity that the tiger exhibit in Islands isn't to quite the same standard.
The new Islands exhibits are superb. The Malayan Tapir exhibits are simple but effective, with good viewing and an excellent indoor area. The aviary is also impressive - I agree with the comparison to 'Jewels of the Forest' at Jersey - and I think the criticism of the magpie aviary has been somewhat harsh (it is surely an improvement on the lory aviary by the Bali Mynah walkthrough).
The Sun Bear exhibit, as has been mentioned, is the best of the lot. The viewing areas are spacious - a welcome change from the more congested parts of Monsoon Forest - and the exhibits themselves are spacious and eyecatching. It reminds me in some ways of London's 'Tiger Territory', and it's a pity that the tiger exhibit in Islands isn't to quite the same standard.
Have the collared iguana been on show before, if so where?
They're mixed with Ploughshare Tortoises in Dragons in Danger.
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