Half Term - The Final Instalment ... WARNING ... A Lot of Photos

Hello there! "Thank You" for your kind comments on my last post. Your words of encouragement about my photography means a lot to me. Having said all that, the photos on this post were all taken on the automatic setting!

On Friday morning of last week KP and I had haircuts booked whilst the OH went and bought some rat traps! We had heard the pitter patter of unwelcome visitors during our stay and a conversation with our neighbours confirmed that they had rats too! We had earlier in the week purchased some poison which had been left in the attic and the rats had eaten it all so we put some more down and blocked off where we believed was their point of entry with chicken wire. So now, if they do get in, they will be poisoned or de-capitated!

After the haircuts we drove to Axe Valley Wildlife Park on the outskirt of Axminster. This is a small family run park. When we entered the car park there were very few cars and we feared the worst but, it really was a marvellous place. There was a peacock just wandering around and a little rabbit too.

A new introduction to the Park were two leopard cats. Followers of this blog will know that we are animal mad here especially in relation to cats and dogs! Isn't the above just beautiful.

This photo was taken through perspex screening so is not as clear as perhaps it could be but is far better than wire cages to see the animals. I think if I were an animal I would prefer to be able to look out without any obstruction too!

Doesn't this little one have such intense eyes.

I wonder what he's spotted high up in the tree!

We came to the enclosure that contained a rhea.

And a crane who had a hairdo to rival our new haircuts any day!

This crane was strutting its stuff - parading around its enclosure.

A bit of a show off!

We came across a porcupine behind its glass enclosure.

There were a number of ducks and chickens wandering freely around. I loved the colours on this one.

That beak could do some serious damage!

In amidst all the animals there was some colourful roses!

And now to my absolute favourite animals here - raccoon dogs. KP wanted to bring one home!

Aren't they just adorable.

Too cute for words!

There were plenty of birds.

And a coati.

KP said "Isn't he a darling!"

She wanted to bring this one home too!

We wandered back to the raccoon dogs and both came to greet us.

The OH got them to come up to the viewing area by rattling the car keys. They were clearly interested. Maybe they did want to come home with us!

This bird resembled a turkey. I don't know if it is!

We came across a great grey owl who was a bit aloof. The car key trick did not impress this one! He was clearly happy to stay where he was!

We went and saw the zebras.

And the wallabies.

Before coming across some reindeer.

Look at the antlers on this one -  you wouldn't want to be in this field when he was in an angry mood.

And then we saw the kookaburras. When I have seen them in other wildlife parks they have always remained at the back of their cages and high up. There were three in a cage here and they were so close you could have touched them.

I have always loved these birds,  more so than colourful parrots who can perform tricks and speak.

One of the three clearly had a dodgy beak!

I was so happy to be this close that I was a bit snap happy but thought that you wouldn't mind looking at all the photos that I took of them as I just couldn't decide which ones to leave out!

Looks as if he / she is listening to our conversation. It went something like "I could take them home too, they are so cute!"

The last kookaburra photo!

We came across an eagle owl.

And then we heard this otter literally chattering away almost as if we were being beckoned over.

This otter loved getting the attention. Just as we were at the otters enclosure it started to rain. We dived into the little cafe for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. It is a very small cafe but it did the trick for as soon as we had finished our cuppa the sun came out.

So we decided that we would do another walk around the small site and visit a few of our favourite animals.

First came the cheeky crane with his brilliant hairdo!

Then the little chipmunks who had been too fast for my camera the first time round but this one had an itch and so stopped long enough for a scratch for me to get a photo!

The rhea who kept trying to get at our bag of bird food!

The leopard cat.

Who kindly looked both left and right to allow me to take these two photos.

I just love the markings.

We came to the meerkat enclosure.

And the mongoose which we had missed the first time around.

There were many different varieties of duck. I think this is a duck anyway!

I wouldn't want to be pecked by this one!

Chickens with fluffy feet waddled around.

Roaming freely.

That's what I like about places like this - they're not on the top ten list of attractions to visit but turn out to be far better than those commercial outlets. This is a family run business and it is clear that the animals are the number one priority which is how it should be.

The cheeky rhea who wanted our bird food!

A close up!

This crane gave me the creeps. I have a photo taken just after this one where he opened his mouth so that you could literally see down its throat and rolled its eyes back into its head which was very, very creepy and although I was tempted to show it to you, I haven't, as it freaked me out at the time and I don't really want to remind myself of it! 

I don't know what this bird is but we had missed it too the first time around!

And finally, a black swan.

On Saturday the weather was again a bit hit and miss so we headed for Bridport to wander around the vintage shops. I purchased a blue french enamel jug.

In the evening we made our way to Lyme Regis to see the fireworks on The Cobb.

I tried to take photos on the manual setting but I'd forgotten everything the tutor had told us about how to take photos of fireworks - silly me! I'll now have to wait till next year!

Some people were watching from the beach and I love the silhouetted effect.

Especially on this photo.

And if you've lasted with me till this photo - "Thank You" for, as usual, I have taken too many photos and wittered on - so, I'd better stop!

Until next time,

June.