Minnesota Zoo -

[guppiecat]

I went to the Minnesota Zoo in June, and I'm just now getting to posting the photos. On the down side, sorry I'm so behind on my zoo photos. On the plus side, aren't you glad to get content that isn't just the deranged ravings of a pangolin obsessive? :)

This was just a general walkabout, but seems to have a few more birds than usual. This may have something to do with it being during summer and my having a 400mm lens with me. The set is here.




American plains bison (Bison bison bison) - The left side of the bison is the heavier.


Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) - The back of a cat's retina is reflective, so that the photosensitive cells have a double chance of receiving light... which makes me wonder why the pupil is completely black.


Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) - Wikipedia has far more information on spots than you'd think was possible: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot


Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) - Is there anything more beautiful than wind-swept camel fur on a summer's day? (Well, probably.)


Bittern - "There's gotta be fish somewhere around here."


Bittern - "Is that a fish?"


Bittern - "OMG! FISH!"


Bittern - "blub blub blub"


Bittern - "I just ate a fish!"


Bittern - "Gotta find a new fish before that upside down bird does."

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely set. The leopard pics are spectacular (I've never gotten decent angles at them) and the bittern doing the "I just ate a fish" dance is very nice too.

[guppiecat]

Thank you.

I think the angle problem is also helped by having a 400mm lens on a cropped sensor. I suspect it's easier for me to shoot through the fencing. Extremely bright sun is also a plus.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Yeah, animals are largely a telephoto subject, for sure. I probably give up to easily on the fences. But you had better light; does that happen earlier in the morning than I ever get to the zoo in that exhibit, by any chance?

[guppiecat]

Yeah, I'd say I probably took those photos around 10:00 or so? My normal path is to head to the tigers and wander around so I hit the new Siberian area backwards. It takes about an hour to get there, I think.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I particularly love the bittern series because I live off a street called "Bittern Hollow", and I always have to explain what it is.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Oh, and by the way, World Animal Day at The Big Picture.

[pameladean]

I love the bittern ones.

The leopards are splendid, too, but I've seen more leopard behavior than bittern behavior, overall.

P.

[guppiecat]

That right there says a heck of a lot about our culture and technological level. :)