If it’s really hot and miserable, and the sun is blindingly bright, there’s one place you can always go to hang with the coolest, and that’s the penguin and puffin house in the Zoo. Today it was about 200 degrees outside*, so you can imagine the relief my son Austen and I felt when we walked into the refrigerated place the cool birds call home. Kept at a sweet 100 degrees below zero*, it was a welcome change from the oven outside - for the first 5 minutes. After that, I began to wish I had brought my winter parka. By the time we exited the building, my camera lenses were so cold that they fogged up. We stayed outside after that.

The flamingos were in fine form today, barking and snapping at each other when they weren’t admiring their own reflections in the water. I must not have ever really looked at one before, as I was not aware of the curious shape of their bills. I suppose, though, to another flamingo they must look quite natural. I did managed to get a few photos, even though I was in the park for less than two hours. Would you like to see them?

*Temperatures are emotional estimates and may not be strictly accurate