Mobile Zoo from Impeyan Productions, Take 1

I've had such an exciting evening! I went to zoo evening run by Impeyan Productions and I got a Meerkat in my ear.
yes, you read that right.
The EAR.
http://www.charlesanimalencounters.co.uk/

We got to see parrots and hornbills (Like in the Lion King!) and Tree frogs and Gekos- all the normal stuff you'd expect from a mobile Zoo.

We also got to see an armadillo. They're much faster and scratchier in real life and it did roll up into a ball, Twice.
So my evening was more or less prefect then...


But wait! BATS! fruit bats. We even got to feed him grapes.

And, I think I almost died of cuteness exposure- A fledgling Barn Owl. It's still got it's downy feathers.
Have you ever seen anything so adorable and sad all at once?

Tats has a photo of me with the meerkat in my ear. Not dignified.

The Bird of Prey Centre, Willstead

After all the drama of last night, We decided to have an afternoon out today, to make ourselves super cheery.

The Bird of Prey centre moved from Shuttleworth to Willstead over the last year- so we missed the centre at Shuttleworth as it was already closed to move everything to the new location, and then we've had to wait for the new place to be up and running.
It was definitely worth the wait.
Entrance was £10,but you can do the whole day, go to all 3 30 minute shows and have opportunities to hold the birds afterwards so really it's quite a good deal.

I was disappointed as we missed the 11:30 flying demonstration, because it was all owls!
We arrived about 1, so we paid and walked round all the birds in their shelters- most are just tethered on perches as they are either the falcons used to the day hunting experiences, or they take part in the shows- you can kind of tell which ones are ready to take part in the shows as they get a bit restless around 1:30 and 3:30!
It looks a bit mean, but actually, they all get a fair bit of free flight time and hunting time so it's probably much kinder than being in an avery.

The first show we were unprepared for- there were storks and bald eagles and hybrid falcons- and Traffs favourite was the caracara which is a scavenger from the falklands- and it's really clever- it was retrieving hidden food. The lady doing the show told us that they steal small items from washing lines to line their nests as it's more comfy than sticks and moss- and they steal food like seagulls do.

After the first show I got to hold a barn owl.
:)

We walked round and saw more of the birds- including the red kites- I don't usually miss Didcot, but the noise the red kites make made me think of my parents old garden- sometimes the Kites would land on the washing line! Then went and had a drink and linzer biscuits in the tea room (It's a very accommodating tea room, good selection of cake!).by the time we'd done all that it was almost time for the 3:30 show so we made our way back to the main field.
There were more Caracara's and turkey vultures (one of them landed miles away and had to be rescued), Eldis eagles and falcons.

After the second show I got to hold a tawny owl.It did not want it's photo taken.

Now, if we'd been clever we'd have realised that there was an open evening and BBQ today where you get to hold all the animals and see loads more displays, but unfortunately, as it was all a bit spur of the moment, we didn't book that. That would have been awesome.

Traff's parents new puppy :)

Traff's parents got a new dog today- They adopted a rescue dog- a doberman named Brandon- from an animal shelter near where they live in Spain.

Traff's mum has been knitting things for them to sell in their charity shop- as well as blankets and coats for the dogs too.
Whilst they were visiting the people who run the shelter to hand over their knitted goodies they were told about the Doberman- it had been rescued because it's owners didn't want to keep it, so they shot it in the face, to "get rid of it".
The poor dog wasn't killed by being shot, but was left blind, so it's prospects of finding a home were pretty bleak, so the outcome would have been the same really- shot or euthanised.The woman at the shelter flet it was a pretty hopeless case.
Traff's parents almost immediately decided that they would adopt him-and after recovery and rehabilitation over the last 2 months (The had to pay for his food)- he is now in his new "forever home".

They emailed us some photos of him kipping on the porch and out for a walk around the garden.
He's a big dog! and he'll get bigger yet as he's not very old.
They rang to tell us he has a lovely temperament and has settled in really well- he was sleeping on Traff's mums lap. He's already able to find his way around ok- luckily they have a bungalow- and he'll only find that easier with time.

I'm pleased he got his happy ending eventually, but I'm pretty disgusted and horrified that anyone would treat a dog like that just because they couldn't be bothered to look after it or didn't want to keep it. I can't understand how anyone could do that.

They adopted a rescue dog before which had been badly beaten by it's last owner. every time you raised your hand to do anything- like turn on the lights- it would start cowering and yelping.
In the end it ran away, and I'd like to think it made a home for itself in the mountains near where they live, away from people.

frizbee, picnic and feeding the giant fish in the park pond

spot the frizbee! ah, this looks like the summers I remember when I was in primary school- azule skys and not a cloud to ruin them!

Karl, being good at frizbee 

Traff, being not so good.

The picnic with Helen, Karl and Traff- | made a massive bowl of pasta salad with peppers, choritzo and cheddar cheese. we also had party nibbles, crisps and fruit salad. food always tastes better outside!

We fed some of the leftovers and some old bread to the fish in the pond. they're huge!

traff, in his natural habitat.

DRAGONFLY!

McNoLeg's latest house upgrade

the other box freaked him out as it wasn't see through, so he's got a new one- twice the size of his old one!

he seems happy enough though bombing about.

:)

He likes his christmas Gary too!

:D