RED PANDA - CRITTERS SUNDAY

Red Panda

Obviously the Red Panda, or Lesser Panda (shining cat) is not a native creature of the island. I know we have some strange creatures here naturally, but this isn't one of them. Well if we don't have foxes, badgers or squirrels we are hardly going to have these cuties running around. Curraghs Wildlife Park has been paramount with the breeding of the cute little animals which are sadly on the decline, for many reasons ie. habitat fragmentation in their native dwellings of China, Nepal and Myanmar to name a few. So much so that they are classed as "threatened" on the Conservation List. Thanks to not only the wildlife park, but others around the world, these other worldly cuties are currently breeding and hopefully can be saved.

Pichu and his mother Isla, the escaped Red Pandas from Scotland were of course originally from the Island. Thet were bred in captivity here at Curraghs Wildlife Park and then sent across to Scotland. Obviously they had developed a taste for Manx kippers instead of haggis and were heading back for the Isle Of Man. Not the first instance of escpaed animals from Curraghs. Click on George to read my earlier post about the escaped pelican including photo. Unfortunately still no confirmed sighting of the escaped wallaby. Willing volunteer needed to dress up in a fake fur wallaby costume so I can fake a sighting of the critter. Should this idea be taken up, remember you read it here first.


Links below

George
Red Panda, my other photo
Wiki, Red Panda info.

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MARSH ORCHID

Moghrey mie. That's good morning in Manx.

Ramsey in Bloom, another local event, will be here soon and I thought it was about time I posted more of the flora from the island. After viewing some of the lovely orchids for last weeks ABC (hosted kindly by mrs nesbitt ) on so many bloggers posts, I thought I'd show one too. Orchids though aren't the easiest flowers to find, especially Marsh Orchids. You can hunt for hours for one to no avail and then find one by accident, like this one from the Wildlife Park, Ramsey. Have you noticed you always find the perfect flower to photograph on a windy day? So no tripod, no macro, and a not so gentle a breeze couldn't prevent me from snapping this Marsh Orchid.

Actually I'm not so sure what this is? Can anyone identify it correctly. What kind of Marsh Orchid is it? I googled Marsh Orchids and wow, what a variety. So hard to narrow down and pinpoint using pc images, well it is for the enthusiast, but not expert. I'm confident that in the world of blogging more than one of you stoping by today will be able to help the photographer identify what she's capturing. Of course I'll be sure to give you can mention on fridays post for helping me out.

GEORGE THE ESCAPED PELICAN

Say hello to George posing nicely here showing his best side. George is a bit of a celebrity as he escapes from the Wildlife Park, here on the Isle of Man, to Ramsey, usually the promenade, (where this pic was taken) on several occasions. Why he only flies to Ramsey is a mystery, must be good fishing for pelicans. He is not the first escapee pelican, that honour goes to Scotty in '98, and I'm sure he won't be the last. Scotty though made it to Scotalnd, so obviously a more adventurous pelican. Actually I think George just wanted to feature in the Ramsey Daily Photo and was a bit miffed I have photographed so many other birds. He's make a great odd shot sometime. Whole new meaning to a Pelican Crossing!

For more camera critters see MISTY DAWN Camera ctrittrers.