Zoo Day (No 8) Last one.

Being retired, I don’t see too many sparkly icy mornings any more - I'm not complaining! - but there was still enough frost around when I went into town about 9am. My bus journey takes me round the Meadows, the sun shining on the last of the autumn trees, folk out with their dogs, people walking across to work or uni. Then I get off the bus and walk through East Princes Street Gardens. It was in shade from the tall buildings, and probably would stay frosty all day at this time of year. But the sun was shining on the rest of the park. I think I was walking along with a big smile on my face - it was certainly good to be alive on such a morning. Stiff and aching, but alive!

The smile didn’t leave my face when I arrived at the Zoo. I love the early morning calls of the animals - mainly the gibbons screeching and howling. But when I got to the Sea Eagles enclosure, I realised it was them making all the racket this morning.

Another very interesting talk, the last of this season. Rod Thomas now works at Edinburgh University, and his talk was mainly about INNS - Invasive Non-Native Species. For instance, Bovine TB and the badger culling in parts of England. He threw in the idea that badgers are the native species, cows are the invasive ones. It could be said the cows are a danger to badgers, so get rid of all cows in the UK. He got lots of reaction and questions from the audience throughout out his talk. He was fascinating. I could have listened to him all day, and nearly did - the organisers had to kind of step in and stop him...

He is totally opposed to horse racing, and he said that racehorses have the most awful lives, genetically modified to run and run (to the death) and maybe in 50 years from now, horse racing will be banned.

I had a wander round after the talk and took photos of the baby pygmy hippo, the capuchins and squirrel monkeys out feeding on apples in their fantastic enclosure, koalas - though the wee Joey did not pop his head out. Also stood and watched the flamingos for ages.

But I chose this morning’s shot of Edinburgh getting ready for the Festive Season.

Next week we’re all going on a jaunt to the Highland Wildlife Park!