Listening to the cheerful laughter of this iconic species is pretty magical. Today’s images show the back (beautifully fluffed), the front and a couple of extreme close-up portraits of the Laughing Kookaburra that has been busy foraging in my garden this week.
1/800, f/4.5, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon 600 f/4 L IS USM
I love the photograph above and removed some distracting branches, which I don’t usually attempt. I really like the way its head feathers and wings are fluffed as it landed on the branch. The white areas on its wings aren’t usually this noticeable when kookas are perched.
1/1000, f/5.6, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon 600 f/4 L IS USM
Kookaburras forage by perching and pouncing. It’s fascinating to watch them, especially as they often fly several metres from their perch to capture whatever bug or reptile they spotted on the ground. This shot made me smile because of the little blade of grass caught in its bill when it returned to its perch.
1/1000, f/4.0, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon 600 f/4 L IS USM
Sometimes a kooka will keep returning to the same perch but pickings must have been slim and this bird kept trying different spots.
1/1000, f/4.5, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon 600 f/4 L IS USM
Kooka portraits can be stunning, their markings are quite magnificent. Adult kookaburras have creamy-white lower bills while youngsters bills are black – this bird looks as though the transition to adulthood is almost complete.
1/800, f/4.5, ISO 1600
Canon R5, Canon 1000 f/4 L IS USM
The shot above is very typical of their pose when they’ve spotted something moving amongst the leaf litter or grasses.
This week’s photographs were all taken a couple of days ago, during the same session.
Happy birding, Kim
PS I’m thinking of two people in my family who especially love kookas, one turned 90 earlier this year while the other is in primary school – I hope everyone else loves them too.
~ Prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
What magnificent photographs. I love kookaburras even though my finger is still a little sore from several months ago when a kooka swooped to snatch what I was about to put in my mouth. I assure you it was plant based!! Very similar experience to Deidre as I felt the feathers brush against my cheek.
Oh my goodness, yes, such a similar experience to Deidre’s. Maybe your kooka was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t a drumstick and thought your finger looked tastier than your lunch. So sorry your finger is still sore after so long.
Beautiful Kim, I got some shots of one in our garden a couple of years ago, the only one I’ve ever seen in the Village. He seemed to love having his pic taken and was very tolerant of my near him with my big lens poking at him..LOL
I can imagine its tolerance Ron! I often feel that they are looking at me with an expression of curiosity. I hope your kooka returns soon.
Love, love, love this series.
We used to see and hear these birds much more often that we do now. Sadly I think my city’s building frenzy is moving them (and too many other species) out.
I’ve heard that they are in decline and can only hope the powers-that-be stop indiscriminate clearing before its too late. I’m always staggered to realise how many people seem to think that humans are above nature rather than part of it.
Staggered and appalled. I would happily swap rather a lot of people for more wildlife.
Such a stunning bird! Gorgeous pictures, I especially love the portraits!
I wasn’t sure about sharing the portraits but you’ve made me glad I did – thank you!
I love the noble head and clever eyes of the kooka! I never realised that they had pale blueish spots on their wings – so thanks so much Kim, for these brill close-ups. I’ll never forget my close encounter with a kooka – it was about 30 years ago, and I was having my lunch at a picnic table at St David’s park in the middle of Hobart. I was nibbling at a chicken drumstick, when I suddenly felt i was being watched…way across the park, in a gum tree about 25 metres away, I spotted a kooka staring intensely at me! Suddenly – in a flash – the kooka swooped like lightning, and snatched the drumstick from my hand! I felt the brush of his feathers against my cheek! He flew back up to his tree, clutching the drumstick in triumph, and started laughing his head off! So was I! He certainly deserved his share of my picnic, for his daring swoop! It still makes me laugh, to think of that moment – blimey, those birds are fast – and so cheeky!
Your description is superb Deirdre and your lunch thief story is a beauty. You painted the scene so clearly that I can picture it perfectly and can just imagine the expression on your face too. What a neat experience to have had!