Tag Archives: Animals

Baby Giraffe at the Nashville Zoo

Last Tuesday I went to the Nashville Zoo to, what else, take photos. The zoo is a beautiful natural resource of not only animals but plant life too.

Without a doubt my true intentions of going to the zoo this particular day was the chance of seeing the baby giraffe. She was born to Margarita the first week of November last year. Her dad is the sweet, Congo! There are loads of good information on her birth including a video on the Nashville Zoo website! A truly exciting time for the Nashville Zoo and the city of Nashville. I got to the zoo just in time on February 15th. At around 2:30 Suzasita came out in the yard with her mom and “auntie”; Congo was waiting for them. It was the first meeting of dad and daughter.

Suzasita smelling the fresh air in nature or maybe a treat from the keepers up on the rock.

The Nashville Zoo's male Masai giraffe, Congo has a darker coat than the girls.

Handsome portrait of Congo from the Nashville Zoo

Baby Suzasita and mom, Margarita making an appearance at the Nashville Zoo's beautiful, natural yard.

Masai Giraffe family study in black and white.

Baby giraffe with her mom and auntie in nature at the zoo.

Baby and dad giraffe at the Nashville zoo.

Suzasita's reaction to Congo checking to see who she is.

Stay tuned for my next post which will show some of Nashville Zoo’s plant life in winter.

And, almost forgot, in honor of Momma Margarita, I heard that today is National Margarita Day!! Woo HOO!!!!!

Check out the gallery, wild thing, at maryclairecrow.com to see one of my all time favorite photos of Congo!

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Nashville Zoo, Siamangs and White-cheeked Gibbon

The gibbons and siamangs who live at the Nashville Zoo show their presence before you actually see them. They are loud! Actually it is the siamangs that are singing from high atop the trees creating sounds that can be heard in surrounding neighborhoods.

white-cheeked gibbon enjoying the show

reflection in the moat surrounding Gibbon Island

Siamang singing from the tree top!

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Nashville Zoo Bennett’s Wallaby Family

Jooooooeeeeeeyyyyyy, Baaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbyyyyyyyy…. The Nashville Zoo has a fabulous group of Bennett’s Wallabies in their Critter Encounter area. You know, the area where the goats live and the camels. I first encountered the albino male and was swept away by his charm. He is very friendly licking hands and hanging onto visitors arms with his claws. I was at the zoo all day on Tuesday. I am glad I stayed because I had heard there was a seven month old joey living in his mom’s pocket. Right at closing after visiting the clouded leopards, red panda and flamingos one last time for the day I swung by the critter encounter area just before they locked the gate. There he was. This sweet little albino baby poking out and grazing along with momma.

Momma and Baby

Papa. Reminds me of Alice In Wonderland.

Baby peeking out. You can only see his little ear and arm.

Papa greeting visitors. I think if he cigars he would have given us all one.

Awwwwww....no denying who daddy is!

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Garden Spider, Hydrangea and Morning Glory

A collective set of photos taken the past week or so…

The pretty purple morning glories somewhere on ninth street in Old Hickory and a garden spider, Argiope aurantia, also called the writing spider or banana spider just outside the Mayo's. I call him Fred. Isn't he beautiful against the blue sky in the morning light?

Morning glory black and white study.

The royal, majestic and abundant purple morning glory.

Love the color of these. Hydrangea are beautiful in this state.

So many spider webs around. This one had a feather. This morning when I went out on my deck, just before dawn, I counted about 25 spiders doing their thing!

Along the brown/orange and green palette, we have Slim Jim in the grass in the early morning light.

Stray Dude in his best Buddah pose.

Tunnel Spider web. I have never seen a tunnel spider, that I know of, but I can only imagine that if I put my hand near the "tunnel" I would probably never see it again!

A holly hock leaf used as a canvas for some critter to create art!

Nashville Nature Photographer: Red Barn, White Cows

This past weekend I traveled to Van Buren County for another episode of Bluegrass Underground at Cumberland Caverns. Such a great show…. two days of Bluegrass and then some! More of that coming later this week. On the way into the entrance of Cumberland Caverns is this fabulous red barn. I have photographed it before but this time the white cows were out and there were babies. I was so happy and as much as I love listening to really good live music, this brought me great JOY!!

I present to you, Red Barn, White Cows Van Buren County…..

Nashville Nature Photographer: Tennessee Yellow Landscape

The beauty of the Tennessee county landscape, all natural, beautiful horse farm and the sight of an upcoming special event! Pray that Mother Nature brings us sunshine and clear or at least party cloudy skies.

driveway to the barn

field of yellow wildflowers

sight were a new chapter begins

a lake and tall pines dot the landscape

wide open Tennessee spaces

horse stall

sweet, beautiful yellow wildflowers

up in the barn

one of the barn dogs, Katie

sweet Rue

Because this was the first day that the horses were allowed out of the stalls after the flood, they were going to town in the fields.

View of the barn from the party site.

the horseshoe collection

Nashville Nature Photographer: The Robin Family

A little photo album of the robin family on Clarke Street here in Historic Old Hickory Village. April 14-29.

A few days before the babies left the nest.

April 14th.

April 22nd, snug as a bug in a rug!

Dinner time!

Keeping the babies safe and warm.

Feed me!

Dad out gathering worms.

Family Portrait

napping

Always ready to eat!

open wide!

protected and safe

Just before they flew the nest.

the babies free.... the other bird (there were 3) flew out on his own the day before!

Nashville Dog Photographer: Picket Fences and Dogs

This is Molly. She loves a nice pat and chin rub. She is such a lovely pup!!

And then there is Linus. My! How he has grown! He may look menacing but this guy has a heart of gold and is just a big baby. The first photo was taken last summer.

Nashville Nature Photographer: the view from the bathroom window

My house in the spring has a new view everyday. From the huge white pine that lives on the corner of the property and can be seen from both bedrooms (it is like living in a treehouse) to the sweet orange that has become the local drinking hole for the birds, my views from my second story really make me happy and present something new to see each day. This morning while I was brushing my teeth I looked out the window into the saucer magnolia and spied a female cardinal primping. I ran to get my camera and even though she did move I was able to catch her hiding in the tree. The saucer magnolia is getting ready to bloom. The buds at the top of the tree are beginning to show signs of the beautiful pinkish purple petals that will soon fill the tree. This for me is a true sign of spring!

Nashville Nature Photographer: Baltimore Aquarium

Over the holidays I went to the Baltimore Aquarium with family. I had not been there in maybe 15 years. So fascinating…. too bad I am claustrophobic otherwise I would be snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming around with these guys!