Tag: kookaburra
Every picture tells a story.
Well, I did wish for rain …
They do say “be careful what you wish for,” don’t they? Whoever “they” are, they could be onto something. After quite a lengthy dry spell, and a couple of days of drizzle, tonight we have torrential rain.
I can hear the TV cutting in and out in another room, as the heavy rainfall messes with transmission. I think I’d better type fast, just in case we lose power.
The rain didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of the usual morning breakfast crew, who all arrived bright and early asking for a morsel of food. The kookaburras looked like they were all having a bad-hair day, while the others, baby Magpie, the Pee Wee, and my little Butcher Bird, Hoppy, with the gammy leg, all appeared wet, but quite composed.
The valley looked quite magnificent this morning, with crisp green fields, and patches of white cloud dotted across the brilliant blueness of Mount Warning. It looked so gorgeous that I thought I’d take a walk down to the back boundary to get a photo of the uninterrupted view.
I even got as far as pulling on my gum boots and going outside. A sprinkle of rain won’t hurt me, I thought. I had only walked a few steps past the edge of the veranda though when a heavy downpour sent me scurrying back to shelter. And would you believe the maximum temperature today reached 20°C? I spent the day wearing jeans and a jumper ~ in December!
The white on blue looked so good today, I just had to zoom in on the mountain, even though I had to take the photo standing close to the house.
Maybe tomorrow the rain will ease up a touch, even if its just long enough to take a broad view photo of the valley for Silent Sunday. 🙂
A Visit from Larry.
I must confess to having an addiction ~ I simply can’t resist taking photos of kookaburras. My addiction began many years ago when I met my first tame kookaburra, who I named Larry.
When I saw this beautiful boy atop my clothesline this morning I first took a photo from afar. Until I approach a kookaburra, I am never sure whether they are tame or shy. Kookaburras with both characteristics visit my garden these days.
Recently, I have noticed several kookaburras have become more trusting, and allow me to hand feed them. This has created something of a dilemma for me, as once upon a time I had just my one tame bird, Larry. I recognised this bird just after I approached him and spoke to him though ~ it was faithful old Larry. While the other tame birds view me with caution, Larry is cool. Nothing phases Larry. Nothing phased this bird.
When I wanted to walk past the clothesline to take a photo of Mount Warning, I politely told him not to be afraid, I just wanted to take a photo. He calmly looked at me without even so much as flinching. That confirmed it was Larry.
When we heard the distance chorus of kookaburra laughter, Larry became alert. He stopped and listened, and I felt sure he would fly away to investigate the commotion. Instead, he shook himself, and fluffed up his feathers.
Larry looked this way and that, listening, completely ignoring me clicking away with my camera directly beneath where he sat.
With his feathers fluffed up, Larry shook out a wing, as if to fly away, but instead he stayed. His stance shows the expanse of his wing, and the brown and beige stripes running the length of his tail. They are magnificent birds.
I could not believe the change in his feathers! I have seen kookaburras fluffed up against the cold before, but this was the first time I have seen it closely, and in warm weather. Their individual feathers are surprisingly fine and delicate for such a robust bird.
Larry had been the perfect model for me, so definitely deserved a reward. 🙂
When he saw the food, Larry flew down to the fence to eat. He may have had to share his reward with a fly – it’s there if you look closely – then with a full belly and flattened feathers, off he flew to parts unknown. ❤
Another (Different) Sunset
During our recent hot, humid, hazy weather, I have noticed that the best time of day to take photos of the valley is either first thing in the morning – before the valley begins to look hazy – or later in the day – after the haze has been burnt off and replaced by a sunset. Caught up as I am in the mornings though, feeding both my domestic menagerie and the local birds, (oh, and myself!) I tend to forget to take photos of the mountain in the morning. When the camera is out, it’s to take photos of my feathered visitors, such as this friendly kookaburra, sitting right beside my window.
Hmm, I wonder if that stare is a method of emotional blackmail for more food? 😉
Tonight, although it is yet another sunset photo, at least it’s a differently coloured sunset than last night. And I will try to remember to take a morning photo tomorrow. 🙂
In My World 