A sign of autumn

Yesterday, 6 October 2014, I managed to get over to the Calgary Zoo again. About a week ago, I had finally visited what used to almost be my 'second home', after not going since before June 2013, when Alberta suffered the devastating effects caused by our Flood of the Century. The Zoo had been under several feet of water, and I couldn't help but try to imagine what it must have looked like. The Zoo folks did such an absolutely incredible job of rescuing and moving so many creatures, large and small - just impossible to even imagine. It felt so good last week and yesterday to be able to wander round and enjoy the animals once again. Interesting how different two visits can be - for example, last week, I had a good view of the new trio of young male Mandrills (monkeys), but yesterday, they were outside in the old African Wild Dog enclosure where it is impossible to see and photograph them. Last week, there was no sign of the amazing "white" black bear, but yesterday I was lucky. You just never know what will be out and what will be hidden.

Photographed this single strand of Virginia Creeper, in its full autumn glory, growing on one of the zoo walls. Here in Calgary, we don't get the magnificent Maple trees that turn red in the fall, so any splash of red colour tends to catch the eye here.