Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/02/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Howard, Although his wings have some blue flecks, this is a laughing or common kookaburra Dalcelo novaeguineae, not D. leachii. The latter is found in northern Australia only, from Brisbane to Shark Bay, and has a much larger area of much brighter blue on its wings. It also has a conspicuous blue eye and a smaller head. This is an easily made mistake, as few guides mention that the laughing kookaburra has blue flecks on its wings. The laughing kookaburra is famous in Australia for killing and eating snakes, even some of our extremely venomous elapids. Large flocks (that seems like a poor collective noun for this animal, maybe 'a raucous of kookaburras' would be better) were famous in the house where I grew up for waking us up at dawn. It's a lovely shot. I hope Sydney remains pleasant; there's some hot weather coming this way that may make it there eventually. Marty On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 7:28 AM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com> wrote: > Howars I'km glad that you are meeting more of the locals. The kookaburra's > song, often in chorus, is one of the iconic sounds of the Australian bush. > Many more creatures await your lenses once you get to Brisbane! > Cheers > Geoff > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman > > > On 16 February 2010 20:23, H&ECummer <cummer at netvigator.com> wrote: > >> Hi Luggers, >> Info taken from Wikipedia: >> Kookaburras (genus Dacelo) are large terrestrial kingfishers native to >> Australia and New Guinea. >> Kookaburras are named after the sound of their unmistakable call, which is >> like loud, echoing human laughter ? good-natured, but a rather hysterical >> maniacal cackling in the case of the Blue-winged Kookaburra (D. leachii) - >> pictured. The photo was taken today at Bradley's Head with the G1 and the >> 45 >> - 200 zoom handheld with VR on. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Australia2010/KookaburraW.jpg.html >> http://tinyurl.com/ylgwqjz >> Please enjoy, >> All C&C welcome as always >> Cheers >> Howard (in sunny windy Sydney) >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information