Dino Adventure sep 17 th 2012

For a change, a quick trip to Chester zoo as the weather not too good, especially for the mountains.   really enjoy going to the zoo , always something to photograph but this time it was a fun day walking around the Dino exhibit :)

but first, a few shots from around the Zoo on the way to the gardens where the Dino's are set out.
first to see where the bush dogs, always fun to watch running around following each other :D

                            walking past the raptors i have managed a shot of one of the owls in the aviary

           and one of the two gorgeous tiger cubs :)  which have now been sent away to form new breeding pairs in Europe :(    will miss seeing them!

       Right!  its Dino time, i have not a clue what to expect. starting next to the "realm of the  Comodo dragon "   with this bronze statue

walking through the entrance i can see a small Dino in the bushes  but then came face to face with this!!!!!!

  i have just been soaked as it spits water! wtf!     so funny really :D  very realistic with all parts animated moving backwards and side to side then bending down to eye level .

  further down the path i have come across this huge head!   haha  not moving though

                                around the corner is Triceratops with little babies :) cute!

                                                 they merge is so well in with the gardens

                                                                peanut head Dino :)

                                                    must be feeding time for the Dino's lol

                                                Tyrannosaurus Rex , with a youngster

 

baby in the bushes :D

stuck in the mud???????

that was the last of the Dino exhibits

walking around the rest of the i take a few shots before it starts to rain, sigh!

                                                 a face only a mother could love  haha

i have taken shelter in the tropical house, but is so dark in here i am really struggling to  shoot anything, managed this lovely image using iso 4000 to get enough shutterspeed.

                       i have chased this sunbittern around for ages , this is the best i can get.

i stop off in the jaguar house, not a sign of the big cats but for once the sloth is in a position to photograph is face!  Yay    iso 6400 for this one as its very dark , but is first time i have ever seen its face :D

                             the end of a unusual day to say the least , really enjoyed it :D

Sumatran Tiger Cubs at Chester Zoo jan/feb 2012

In between climbing mountains i have been visiting Chester zoo to shoot the tiger cubs.Pete has been spending a lot of time their shooting them, way more than i have!  im too impatient to wait for them to wake up and come out to play!  lol   it is so difficult with either glass or wire mesh to shoot though!     the enclosure is quite dark with all the big trees blocking light so have to shoot at high iso to get fast enough shutterspeed!

the cubs were 14 weeks old when i first saw them.They were born on 21st October     First are two pictures of their mother "Kirana" , i managed to lie on the floor in front of the glass viewing screen to get a good low angle to shoot from.  think they came out really well!

                 Now the cub pics, these first few are shot through wire mesh with 70-300is lens

                               They do sleep alot, but then they come out to play with mom :)

                                                                     Mom Having a rest!!!!

Here are two of Petes cub shots :)    a superb low composition, they are so cute at the moment!!!!!

and a more recent shot from last week of the pair! 

Here is my favourite shot, a big crop at high iso unfortunately, but its a special moment with mother and cub :D

                      All images taken with canon 5d2, 70-300 is  & 550d 100-400mm L (Pete)