Banham Zoo - second attempt

Emperor Tamarin, Banham Zoo, Norfolk, UK

I had tried to put up a post yesterday about a visit I made with my two year old son to Banham Zoo on Saturday. Unfortunately for reasons only known to blogger I wasn’t able to do this, so I’ve had another day to mull on what to write.

I guess I should make clear my broad views on Zoo’s first as they can raise strong emotions in people. I grew up in north London and one of my key early influences were the books of Gerald Durrell. Of relevance to this post was his manifesto for modern Zoo's The Stationery Ark. I learnt my early birding skills in and around north Londons' parks and reservoirs and as a member of the XYZ Club [Exceptional Young Zoologists I believe] also spent many happy hours wandering around London Zoo. on me.

So I'm pro good zoo's, zoo's which have high welfare standards, which educate their visitors, who take part in conservation initiatives and who help to change how people feel about wildlife conservation.

Over my two family visits to Banham Zoo I have gained an impression of a family friendly, reasonably well run zoo. One or two of the cages look a little small, but I know size alone doesn't make a good home for wild animals. I also like the sense that they haven't tried to squeeze in the full suite of stereotypical zoo animals. There are for example no Lions, Rhino's, Hippo's or Elephants. This isn't universally popular with all their visitors and I overheard one young mum saying to her chap "I can't believe they don't have elephants" as if you couldn't call yourself a zoo without at least one Elephant.

The Zoo does seem to be in a state of flux at the moment with several new enclosures either about to open [The walk through Lemur exhibit] or on the cards down the line [The Rainbow Lorikeets]. These look like they could be exciting additions to the zoo adding not only to the animals well being but also to the quality of visitor experience.

But I do feel that the zoo need to think more carefully about how it interprets the animals both through static and face to face interpretation. Being in sole charge of a lively two year old, I like many visitors had my hands full on Saturday and had little time to absorb messages. On the odd occasion I looked at an interpretation panel it did seem a little wordy and in need of an edit. The only live interpretation we listened too was about the spectacular Siamang Gibbons, this was somewhat lack lustre and tried to pack in too many messages, but much more importantly it was broadcast to the visitors and there was no attempt to interact and build excitement.

I also think that Banham Zoo could think harder about placing seats in positions that make it easier for folk to dwell by exhibits, so that they can slow down and wait for the animals to behave, rather than wandering past each cage and moving on if nothing is happening there and then. I wonder what is the dwell time in front of an exhibit here?

Having said all this we enjoyed our four and a bit hours on site and the zoo got many things right. From a parents perspective the baby changing facilities were great [they have them and they are unisex]. I didn't bother with the cafe which looked just as poor as last time, but we came prepared with a packed lunch and there are plenty of tables to eat at. The Safari Road Train ride was a great way of spending 10 - 15 minutes with a two year old boy and a great way for the Zoo to exceed my jaundiced expectations as it was free!

I’ll finish with our favourite moments. Mine were on arrival listening close up to the deafening calls of the Siamang Gibbons, this brought back memories of a couple of visits I made to Khao Yai National Park in Thailand in the early 1990's where I was woken each morning by a dawn chorus dominated by Gibbon's. I also, as before, loved the Red Panda exhibit and I think the Emperor Tamarin's with their free access to Birch trees is great, especially if like me you want to photograph animals without bars or reflections in the glass getting in the way. But it would be even better if there were more / better placed seats by this exhibit.

My little boy loved the Penguins and we had to pay these a second visit. He was also keen on the Giraffe's and wanted to see more of the sleeping Tiger. Of cours ethe large Dinosaur that we saw from the train was also a firm favourite.

I'd go back maybe once or twice a year with the family and perhaps as often again on my own with a camera.

For more Banham Zoo pictures check out my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullofthebog/sets/72157623737928335/

A Day at Banham Zoo

Red Panda, Banham Zoo, Norfolk

I took our two year old to Banham Zoo yesterday. This was his and my second visit although he was too young to remember his first visit.

I grew up reading Gerald Durrell books including his manifesto for modern Zoo's The Stationery Ark. I also grew up in London and although I'm a great advocate of the view that if you have eyes to see you can find and experience the wild in our big cities. I also know that having London Zoo close by was an important formative influence on me.

So I'm pro good zoo's. Zoo's which have high welfare standards, which educate their visitors, who partake in conservation initiatives and who help to change how people feel about wildlife conservation.

Over my two family visits to Banham Zoo I have gained an impression of a family friendly, reasonably well run zoo. One or two of the cages look a little small, but I know size alone doesn't make a good home for wild animals. I also like the sense that they haven't tried to squeeze in the full suite of stereotypical zoo animals. There are for example no Lions, Rhino's, Hippo's or Elephants. This isn't universally popular with all their visitors and I overheard one young mum saying to her chap "I can't believe they don't have elephants" as if you couldn't call yourself a zoo without at least one Elephant.

The Zoo does seem to be in a state of flux at the moment with several new enclosures either about to open [The walk through Lemur exhibit] or on the cards down the line [The Rainbow Lorikeets].

We enjoyed our four and a bit hours on site. From a parents perspective the baby changing facilities were great [they have them and they are unisex]. I didn't bother with the cafe which looked just as poor as last time, but we came prepared with a packed lunch and there are plenty of tables to eat at. The Safari Road Train ride was a great way of spending 10 - 15 minutes with a two year old boy and a great way for the Zoo to exceed my jaundiced expectations as it was free!

My favourite moment was on arrival listening close up to the deafening calls of the Siamang Gibbons, this brought back memories of a couple of visits I made to Khao Yai National Park in Thailand in the early 1990's where I was woken each morning by a dawn chorus dominated by Gibbon's. We returned here just before we left for a rather lack lustre bit of live interpretation. The guy said all the right things but didn't engage at all with the audience. I also, as before, loved the Red Panda exhibit and I think the Emperor Tamarin's with their free access to Birch trees is great, especially if like me you want to photograph animals without bars or reflections in the glass getting in the way.

My little boy loved the Penguins and we had to pay these a second visit. He was also keen on the Giraffe's and wanted to see more of the sleeping Tiger.

I'd go back maybe once or twice a year with the family and perhaps as often again on my own with a camera.

For more Banham Zoo pictures check out my Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullofthebog/sets/72157623737928335/

Little Bittern at Titchwell

The 'Gallery' for the Titchwell Little Bittern this evening


Juv Little Bittern, Titchwell Marsh this evening

Not had much time to get out birding but a short walk this evening to test out the camera after its return from Canon for repairs turned up trumps.

A Little Bittern was showing well by the side of the West Bank path and I managed this heavily cropped and tweaked 'record' shot. I am sure those with more time at their disposal will have managed far better results.

This was incidently a Norfolk and UK lifer.

Also had a female Marsh Harrier, male Sparrowhawk and a calling Cetti's Warbler during my brief visit.

Passing time with Passage Waders at Titchwell

Little Stint, Titchwell Marsh


Ruff, Titchwell Marsh

Curlew Sandpiper, Titchwell Marsh

Real feel of autumn in the air the past week or so. This morning saw me taking our toddler to Home beech for a play and a chance for me to have a very quick squint at the sea where couple of young Gannets could be seen feeding way offshore.

This afternoon I managed an hour at Titchwell on my own. The Fresh Marsh was looking pretty good and absolutely hooching with waders, In the time I spent there I saw 13 species and dipped on Wood Sandpiper. Perhaps the highlights were the juvenile Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers and the mixed winter and summer plumage Spotted Redshanks.

After Titchwell back to the father in laws in Titchwell where we watched a Weasel work its way along one of the flower beds.

Top wildlife moments from Asturias July 2010

Marbled White, Asturias, July 2011.

A little top seven wildlife moments from our recent family holiday in Asturias.

Evening and two Honey Buzzards fly by at eye level, wonderful profile view with lots of lovely plumage detail visible. A brief but classic view and a wonderful moment with nature.

Knowing that there should be raptors somewhere over the distant 'Turbine Ridge' and eventually scoring distant but distinctive views of Griffon's.

The first afternoon butterflying. Warm sunshine, a meadow splashed with purple, yellow, pink white and blue flowers. So much promise and so many Marbled Whites, Clouded Yellows and Meadow Browns.

The first evenings unsuccessful Salamander patrol but the discovery of Glow Worms and churring Nightjars.

A montage memory of rock pools and sea anemones, crabs and shrimps, sandy beaches and jagged rocks, all with our toddlers excited screams and shouts.

Fire Salamanders and then more Fire Salamanders. The relief of finally getting them and then their abundance on that first damp night, followed by time spent photographing them and learning more of their lives by following them on succeeding nights and in chats with our hosts.

West Iberian Painted Frog. The joy of the unexpected. The joy of plunging my hand into a warm, muddy ditch and pulling out a gem of a frog. The rain and wet adding to the experience and then later the buzz of identifying it from photos.

West Iberian Painted Frog

West Iberian Painted Frog, Asturias, Spain, July 2011

Lets keep the Amphibian vibe going a little longer. Towards the end our holiday I went for a walk along the road that runs beneath La Cumbre and up towards a small chapel. I had a few days before noticed some tadpoles living in a ditch that ran alongside the road. On this evening other than a short burst of Nightjar churring, it was very quiet.

On this evening as I walked past the ditch I flushed one or two frogs, these dived into the mess of overgrown herbs and grass that had been flooded out by the rising muddy water levels in the ditch. Moving quickly I plunged my right hand into the murky water and located one of the frogs pulling it out for a closer look and to take its picture with the small digital compact camera that I had in my pocket. It posed on the tarmac for a few pictures before disappearing back into the ditch.

Looking in Arnold & Ovenden I am pretty certain that this is a West Iberian Painted Frog Disclogossus galganoi. This is based on range, its pointy head shape, patterning and lack of a visible ear drum. A frog lifer!

Fire Salamanders by torchlight

Fire Salamander, Asturias, July 2011.

Before I got into birds I was into Amphibians. As a kid I used to love exploring marshy corners and ponds in search of frogs and newts. Finding these was no mean feat in the concreted over corner of north London where I grew up, but find them I did. I've never lost this love of searching for Herps and on the rare occasions these days that I manage to get somewhere with a less impoverished Reptile and Amphibian than population than the UK's I enjoy the challenge of finding, identifying and photographing the local Herps.

I had a chance to do just this recently on a two week family holiday to the Asturias region of northern Spain [we stayed at http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p224154 ]. The big draw here was Fire Salamander, an amphibian that I had never seen in the wild and which I was told occurred in good numbers around the farm buildings 'after rain'.

So for the first week of our stay I patrolled the bone dry gardens and fields around the farm by torchlight in a fruitless search for Fire Salamanders, turning over every movable stone, log, plank and piece of plastic in the hope of finding a hiding beast. Then it rained and rained some more and out came an army of slugs and snails. But still on my first torchlit circuit no Fire Salamanders. Then half way through my second damp walk round the grounds, just as I was resigning myself to never seeing one of these little black and gold gems, there one was in my torch beam in the middle of the grassy path.

I got down on my hands and knees to get a closer look and to take its photo and spent a happy ten minutes in its company. When I got back to the buildings Fire Salamanders seemed to be everywhere and I watched bemused as two squeezed out of a narrow gap [narrow even for a Salamander] between the stone steps and wall of one of the outbuildings. For the next two or three nights I encountered Salamanders on my nightly patrols, enjoying their company to the sound of cow bells and churring nightjars as a light rain fell on my back.

These Salamanders were of the Asturian race Salamandra salamandra bernardezi which tend to be smaller than other European Fire Salamanders and have adapted to giving birth to a handful of live young.

I was asked by our helpful host Lynn, whether they were poisonous to people and I still think my gut instinct that they would only cause you harm if you rubbed their mucus in your eyes or mouth [an unlikely scenario] is true, I can though find very little online about their toxicology.

Lynn felt that numbers had perhaps declined around the farm and certainly elsewhere on the mountain where chemicals were used on the land and I suspect this allied to the stands of Eucalyptus and Pine where once there would have been native deciduous forest has probably reduced their numbers.

I'll put some more pictures on my Flickr page shortly http://www.flickr.com/photos/bullofthebog/ .