Cocktails With An Owl

The Houston Zoo had a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of the

Sea Lion exhibit -- a new pool, covered areas for the public, new paint job.

When the zoo celebrates they bring out their Ambassadors and one of them is

this beautiful, female Great Horned Owl.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled weekend.

If I Hide, Will They See Me?

If I hide behind the flowers, do you think they will see me?

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Camera Critters: The Girls

Thanks to Misty for hosting Camera Critters.

This is the Princess Mina, a lilac point Siamese with a bobbed tail.

She came to live at Twisty Lane on July 5.

Mina was adopted from a no kill shelter and was the mother of 5!

She's had a few medical problems -- ear mites, intestinal bacteria infection

and to add insult to injury -- tape worms.

She's doing great now. Finished with all her medications.

She loves to eat and needs to lose a little weight.

She loves to play and would love to play with her adopted sister, Cassie.

Cassie isn't sure.

I'm not sure what Mina was looking at -- perhaps the ceiling fans!

She is a cute little thing.

This is Cassie -- the little star.

She is giving me the "Mummy, why did you bring her here?" look.

It's okay, Cassie.

You'll always be my baby girl!

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a fun filled weekend!

Stay cool!

A Visitor To Musashi's Garden

I'm joining Camera Critters today to share a visitor to Musashi's Garden.

The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

A really big dude!

He stayed in the garden for quite awhile giving me a chance to grab the camera, run out the door, 

and without scaring him away, take a few shots.

A real treat.

Wishing YOU well and a joy filled weekend!

Camera Critters: Around The Neighborhood

It's Saturday and time for Camera Critters!

I celebrated my birthday with one of my young baseball buddies by

having brunch at Canopy.

She knows I not only love baseball (especially college baseball)

but I also love birds.

She took me to a neighborhood near both of our homes and look what we found!

I did not go prepared.

I only had my Lumix point and shoot with me.

While I saw the hawk in the tree, I figured there was no way I'd capture him.

But look ... there he is -- not far from his nest.

He looks a bit put out! 

Perhaps he was peeved that I was making over all the baby herons.

The hawk and his family seem to live in harmony with their other bird friends.

This is an area, in the middle of town, that is known for the nesting of Night Crowned 

and Yellow Crowned Herons.

Cute little babes, aren't they!!!!

I took lots of shots, but between my excitement at finally seeing the little ones 

and their constant movement,

this was the best capture of the babes.

What a treat! 

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a lovely weekend!

The Great White

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), 

also known as Great White Egret, 

Common Egret, or Great White Heron.

 Photographed in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park, Houston.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters.

Wishing you WELL, JOY and a CRITTER filled weekend!

Yes, They Do Whistle!

One of the joys of walking in Hermann Park is watching the ducks,

especially my favorites, the Black Bellied Whistling Ducks.

They are so un-ducklike!

They have long legs.

And, they whistle.

Really.

They are so much fun to listen to ... especially when they are eating.

They make me smile and it's hard to beat a smile!

This fella took off just as I clicked.

I'm joining Misty for Camera Critters

And Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU WELL and JOY!

Funny LIttle Guys

A quick visit with a couple of the funny little Meerkats at the Houston Zoo.

Enjoy!

Thank you to Misty for hosting Camera Critters each week.

Wishing YOU well and a Joy filled weekend.

Here Kitty, Kitty

Magnificent

Regal

Endangered

Meet the Malayan Tigers, Hana and Pandu, at the Houston Zoo.

Thank you to Misty for being the hostess each week for Camera Critters.

Pygmy Falcon

The elephants weren't the only critters I visited with during

Pancakes with the Pachyderms at the Houston Zoo.

 

This is the African Pygmy Falcon ... the smallest raptor in Africa.

What a cutie!

Very photogenic and patient with everyone who came up to see her.

But, she did get fluffed up when the sparrows started to

bug her. Sort of: "Ha, Ha ... you can't get me!" 

Many thanks to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Pancakes With The Pachyderms

There is just no better way to start off a Holiday week for me

than to go to the Houston Zoo.

Last weekend was Pancakes with the Pachyderms,

a celebration of the opening of the completion of the McNair elephant habitat

and, as you can tell,

taking pictures of the pancakes wasn't on my list of things to do!

I will say that breakfast was very good ... a whole buffet spread

that included eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, scones, breakfast rolls,

Mimosas, Bloody Marys and you could order up an omelet if you wished.

 

 The stars of the show were the Asian Elephants.

Tess (with the blond hair at her ears), 

Tupelo (Tess' calf),

Baylor and Shanti (Baylor's Mom).

Baby Tupelo seems to always take over the show.

What a cutie and such a little squirt!

Tupelo had an exciting morning and was resting and thinking

about what to get into next!

Tupelo and Baylor love their new space.

It includes a big pool for them to play in.

Baylor trying to goof off with his Mom, Shanti.

Shanti is very patient!

This is Thailand.

Dad to Tupelo and Baylor.

A big thank you to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Ring-Tailed Lemur

We had some cool mornings last week and when that happens

it's off to the zoo! 

The ring-tailed lemur is the first primate you see when entering the

primate enclosures.

The sun was in my face and the little guy was on the other side of his house.

I wasn't sure until I downloaded the images later that day that I

had captured his sweet face.

What a treat!

I'm joining Misty Dawn for Camera Critters.

Wishing YOU well and a fun filled weekend.

I have a college baseball barbecue and an exhibition game I'm looking forward to.

A Critter Halloween!

Elephant Bath

Earlier in the summer, before it got too hot for man or beast,

the Houston Zoo had a open house at the elephant barn.

Tess and her calf, Tupelo were the stars.

They love having their bath.

                                   

Little Tupelo was helping.

Tess was a very happy elephant!

Be sure to visit Camera Critters to see the other critters.

I'm also linking to and thanking 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

If you are on the east coast, please stay safe.

Wishing YOU well.