Panther Chameleon male / Furcifer pardalis

            Saturday, 2 May 2020: our temperature after noon is +15C (windchill +14C).  Sunrise is at 6:06 am, and sunset is at 9:01 pm. Another beautiful, sunny day.  Not going anywhere, as I prefer to not add one more person out there, for when those who have to work all week get a chance to go out, if they choose.  I just feel that the rest of us are fortunate enough to have the luxury to choose from five other days, if we have to go out.

Like many people, I am having to post photos from my archives as I have been basically staying home, away from everyone and everything (apart from food shopping and maybe three or four short drives out of the city over the last few weeks).  

I can't add any information about the crisis the whole world is in right now, as Flickr has threatened to terminate my account.  This is because I was adding information about the present situation in the descriptions under the photos I am posting from my archives!  I still don't understand why this was "wrong" and I have not heard back from Flickr after I sent an Appeal email to them.  When I post archive photos, I add the descriptions from previously posted photos, taken on the same outings, to remind myself of where I went and what I saw.  Stay safe and well, everyone!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"This photo was taken at the Calgary Zoo on 26 June 2018.  My visit only covered about half the Zoo, as I usually spend a lot of time in the Conservatory, enjoying the plants and tropical butterflies.  My daughter had taken a photo of a gigantic lily pad, Victoria Water Lily / Victoria amazonica, and I really wanted to see it. There were three or four of them in a tiny pool.  I love the pattern on the underside of the upturned edge of each lily pad,  I didn't see a huge variety of butterfly species that day, but there were enough to keep me happily clicking.

My intention had not been to visit the Panda family, as I was sure there would be an extremely long line-up.  However, I was able to just walk in, which was great.  How lucky we are to have these four amazing animals visit our Zoo.  They were in an inside enclosure, full of plants - and Bamboo, of course.  I'm not sure how many hours a day these animals sleep, but two of the three that could be seen slept for part of the time I was there.  Had to smile at the very uncomfortable positions in which they slept.  There was no glass in front of one of the Pandas, but two other Pandas, including the one in the previous photo, were in a glassed-in part of the enclosure.  Almost impossible to get photos without the reflections of the crowds of people.  

The Bactrian Camel had recently given birth to a baby, named Gobi - such a cute little thing, that they have named Gobi.  No sign of the Red Pandas when I passed their enclosure.  One of the birds I love to see - though these birds tend to hide! - is the amazing Himalayan Monal.  The male, especially, takes my breath away each time I see it.

A few hours well spent happily clicking.  Hopefully, it won't be almost three years before my next visit, though the west entrance does close each winter.  It felt so good to once again be back in a place full of colour and interest."

Taken on: June 26, 2018

Tags:

Calgary

Alberta

Calgary Zoo

nature

reptile

Chameleon

Panther Chameleon

Furcifer pardalis

colourful

can change colour

resting

branch

Old World lizard

zygodactylous feet

side/front view

arboreal

pattern

texture

summer

through glass

indoor

26 June 2018

FZ200

FZ200#4

Panasonic

Lumix

annkelliott

Anne Elliott

Sets appears in: • Calgary Zoo 6 • 2020, my Most Interesting photos

Groups appears in: • Zoo • Reptiles & Amphibians more » • Panasonic FZ series • PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CANADA • Calgary Zoo • Zoos Around the World • Panasonic FZ 200 - Successor to the FZ 150 • Calgary Zoo Photography « less

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ200, f/2.8, 1/80 sec, 37.3mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-FZ200
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	37.3mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 12.0 Windows
Show full info

Stats: 2,154 views / 3 comments