Desert Museum Critters

[lavendertook]

They kept moving around my uncle's surgery day, but he got through his surgery well this afternoon, and I talked briefly to him this evening. That's a relief. And my cold is finally moving on, and my lower leg is feeling better, too.

Last Sunday, mererid took me to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, sort of a mix of a botanical garden and a zoo. We only walked around a little more than half of it, but still saw a lot. My favorite critter viewing was of those who hung around free outside the enclosures, like this hummingbird:






This barn owl was hanging out with his/her human at the entrance to the grounds.


A local squirrel totally unphased by the humans.


I loved the ticked/agouti fur.


An elegant bird--can you identify this one?


A lovely lizard popped out in front of us, I think a kind of iguana, but I'm not sure which.


Ready for a close up.


Here's the mountain lion you saw already--in a an enclosure that I wish was bigger. That the kitty would come up to pace by the window meant more room was needed.


Here s/he's hanging out on the other side--it was very nicely landscaped, so there was some vertical ground to cover. Head-tilt for the win!


A couple of pretty, sleepy wolves in their enclosure. But if you have to be in an enclosure, you should get pillows, and fluffy beds--it seems only fair and to hell with keeping it natural looking when it is not.

More critters, landscape, and flowers in another post.


Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/192637.html with comments

Comments

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

I wish we had humming birds over here. They are glorious creatures.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

aww...head tilt (Merlin's doing htat right now to me). I so want that kitty to have more room. :(

I love those expressions on lizards...very bird-like somehow.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Lovely shot of the mountain lion. I like the hummingbird, too.

[jan-u-wine.livejournal.com]

love all those critters!

[shirebound]

Great shots, especially of that lizard!

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*beams* Thank you for sharing your wonderful visit with us!
*sends you and yours healing vibes*

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Beautiful creatures. I wish that puma and the wolves had more room to roam, though. They don't look happy at all.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

They are. And when they fly by your head, you hear, "whiiiizzzz!"

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Awww. And pillows.

Little dinosaurs.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

They are lovely!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you--I like the lizard close up best, too.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

I think the wolves just looked asleep. The puma, though, was pretty bored looking.

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you could talk to your uncle and that all went well, I'm all the more happier you are feeling better, my dear.
Wow. The photos are fantastic. All of them. I had to print the barn owl and the unknown bird (I will ask one of my nature friends if he know this little wonderful).
Have a wonderful Tuesday, sweetie!

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

That bird is a gray thrasher, I believe.

Oohh, a hummingbird! Great photo. I love hummers. <3<3<3 And the barn owl is gorgeous. Was its handler someone who works there?

Lizards!!! I love lizards!!

Gotta agree with Mews about the mountain lion and wolves. *sigh* I know it's necessary sometimes, but I hate to see any wild animal penned in.

It looks like a fabulous place to visit. I'm so glad you got to go there!! Thank you for sharing the photos.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you, bb!

Thank you--I'm glad you like them. I hope your week keeps going well. (-:

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you. I think mererid said it might be a kind of thrasher.

Thank you! Hummingbirds are wonderful--I have more pics of them to share. I wish I got better pics of the owl--my head on one is fuzzy, alas, but it's back feathers are so gorgeous. Yeah, he worked there.

I was glad to spot him--I seem to have some lizard tracking skillz. (-:

Agreed--they were nicely landscaped enclosures but way too small for the cats, wolves and foxes, which sucks, and yeah, shouldn't' be allowed--they need much more roaming room if they are to be kept humanely. Other residents got more adequate enclosures.for their needs.

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

You are such a dear!
You icon says what I'm feeling right now. *smoochies*

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

*smoochies back*