living coasts » Living Coasts

08-05-2008

Noticed there weren't many photos of this fantastic little place in the Gallery so I've added some to my user gallery: Maguari Gallery - Photo Gallery

20-05-2008

I went on Saturday for the second time, and for the second time I got absolutely soaking wet. Still the staff are very friendly.

I managed to photograph the female Caspian Tern, which was the reason for my visit.

Living Coasts will get some female cormorants as soon as the rescue centre in Africa has any to spare. They have 2.0 at the moment.

The macaroni penguins are sitting on eggs, and the 6 young from 2007 are living in the walk through penguin area.

Several pairs of avocets have chicks and I think also the redshanks hatched a clutch sometime last week.

All the birds seemed to be in excellent condition, and despite the appaling weather I stayed for around 2 and a half hours.

The mangrove exhibit should open in July and will contain stingrays and dinosaur crabs, (whatever they may be). I'm sure they will have more than these two species though.

The seal pool was designed with sea otters in mind. I only saw 2 seals, surely they have more than just a pair.

20-05-2008

bongorob, perhaps dinosaur crabs are horseshoe crabs?

12-07-2008

Yes, I think you are right.

14-07-2008

ive heard that the seal pool is rather dismal and small according to my aunt and really sea otters, are there actually any sea otters in the u.k ?

14-07-2008

It is really small, although one of the keepers told me that the seals used to have the choice of their current pool, and the much larger one next to it (which now houses penguins). They had it for ages and never used it, only when they were being fed in there, so they filled the wall in and put the penguins in the bigger pool.

14-07-2008

ok and sea otters can they be seen in the u.k?

14-07-2008

No, according to ISIS, the only places in Europe they can be seen are Antwerp, Lisbon Aquarium and Blijdorp.

17-07-2008

so is there still a chance that living coasts could get sea otters?

30-08-2008

I visited Living Coasts again yesterday to have a look at the new Mangrove Forest exhibit. Less 'forest', more interpretive displays and half a dozen tanks containing an interesting variety of fish. Unfortunately, I didn't make a note of them all as I wrongly assumed they'd be listed on the web site.
I can say they include mangrove whiprays, blue spotted ribbontail rays, blue spotted stingrays, horseshoe crabs, fiddler crabs, mudskippers and intriguing foureyed fish. More varieties are on the way.
It is situated around the underwater viewing area for the fur seals. As with the outdoor exhibits, worth a visit and, if you are child free, you don't have to allow a lot of time for it. There is a large activity area for children.

30-08-2008

there was talk of mangrove monitors any sign that this may be the case?

30-08-2008

Probably not. Sea otters aren't prolific breeders. Paignton/Living Coasts were pretty hopeful of obtaining the otters when the facility was built, but failed in pulling it off. The 'fur seal pool' is the main let-down for Living Coasts, apart from the overall size which is far too small for a tourist attraction and the difficulty of getting there. Could have been built better with the funds spent, but a nice collection of seabirds.

30-08-2008

I didn't notice anything.