Zoo Trip #55: Marwell Zoo (Monday 23rd May 2016)

I met up with my brother The Spotlight Kid at Marwell Wildlife in Hampshire on Monday to celebrate my birthday. The weather was kind and we had a great afternoon. We had our picnic lunch beside a sunbathing Amur tiger and a coffee looking at the white rhinos and saw most of the animals we wanted to see including the Asian small-clawed otters (see Extras) and the snow leopards.

Coincidentally it was also the birthday of Irina, their eight-year old snow leopard mother, who we saw lazing on a ledge. Not only that but Smokey was nine on the same day.

The blip is of Kaia, their eight-year old female Amur leopard, who had a birthday on 15 May. Her daughter was also lazing on another platform.

Later I had the pleasure of finally meeting Miranda1008. We had an extensive natter at the Roebuck in Winchester before she headed off to make supper and I began the long drive home, stopping to visit a friend in Melksham along the way. Shortly after I passed Stonehenge I saw a tawny owl sitting on a fence post. A tiring but excellent day.

L.
24.5.2016 (1942 hr)

Blip #1844 (#2094 including archived blips)
Consecutive Blip #043
Day #2251
LOTD #1078 (#1202 including archived blips)

Taken with Pentax K-1 and Pentax HD P-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED WR lens (Crop mode)

Marwell Wildlife, 23 May 2016 (Flickr album)

Zoo Trip series
Marwell Wildlife series
Leopard series
Wildlife series

Now completed, for anyone interested:
The Wadworth Shires Visit The George Inn, Lacock, 14 May 2016 (Flickr album)
A Visit To Caen Hill Locks, 20 May 2016 (Flickr album)

Lozarhythm Of The Day:
Al Green - Love and Happiness (1972)
Lauren Laverne set a mood when she played this on my way to Marwell. It comes from his album I'm Still In Love With You and was chosen as a single for the UK in 1973 (the US followed suit with an edited version in 1977).

One year ago:
Caen Hill Locks