Giant Pandas, Adelaide Zoo
Giant Panda, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Yesterday I wrote about my first visit to see the Giant Pandas on exhibit at the Adelaide Zoo. I had avoided the initial rush to the zoo to see Wang Wang and Funi. Even waiting several months after their arrival, the zoo was still very busy. Despite that I still managed to get very good views and some lovely photos.
Giant Panda, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Giant Panda enclosure, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Giant Pandas, Adelaide Zoo
Giant Panda, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Two Giant Pandas arrived at the Adelaide Zoo late last year in the midst of great media hype. In fact, for months before their arrival they were featured in the news media almost every day, certainly every week. As the arrival date approached this certainly became every day.
Adelaide Zoo under went a major renovation in preparation. A large new entrance gate area replaced the historic entrance gates which had been used since the 1800s. (The old gates were not destroyed; they are just no longer in use.)
Close to the new entrance gates is a multi-million dollar new enclosure specifically built for the two new pandas, Wang Wang and Funi.
In the just over 6 months since their arrival, the pandas have increased visitor numbers to the zoo by 70%. In the first month or so, coinciding with the Christmas and New Year break as well as school holidays, visitors had to book ahead to see these amazing animals. Even then there was a waiting period before getting to see them. I decided to wait until recently and even then I had to line up for ten minutes at the end of a long line of people. The wait was worth it. Over coming days I will feature the many photos I took of the pandas.
Giant Panda enclosure, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Giant Panda, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia
Birds of Encounter Bay, Victor Harbor
Silver Gulls, Victor Harbor
The Victor Harbor area is an excellent place to observe birds.
The beaches and islands and rocky outcrops along the coast afford good views of many species.
The river corridors leading through the town have a completely different set of birds while the hinterland areas of farming, scrublands and open woodlands reveal yet a different set of species.
Here I have featured photos of just three common species.
For more information about birds, and the birds of Victor Harbor in particular, go to my Birding Blog here. The posts include photos of many more species.
Further reading:
Sooty Oystercatcher, Victor Harbor
Australian Magpies, Victor Harbor
The Bluff, Victor Harbor, South Australia
The Bluff, Victor Harbor
Along with Granite Island just off the coast, The Bluff is the most prominent natural feature of the Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay area.
At the base of the this hill there is a narrow dirt road leading to a fishing jetty.
This jetty is very popular with locals and visitors alike, and is one spot where fishing can be plentiful.
Fishing jetty at the base of The Bluff, Victor Harbor
Fishing jetty at the base of The Bluff, Victor Harbor