Kookaburra in painting, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The cheeky laughing kookaburra. A true blue Ozzie icon. The Australian bush wouldn’t be the same without them.
Kookaburra call through eucalyptus forest at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Not only their striking appearance, but their distinctive call echoing throughout the forest. Just mind dazzling. Have you ever stared a kookaburra right in to his eyes?
Look me in the eyes, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
I have and it was an incredible experience. This is what happened.
Colourful eucalyptus forest at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
After yet another busy day exploring, I needed to procaffinate and catch my breath from what the Atherton Tablelands had to offer so far. I drove to Millstream Falls carpark, knowing that little traffic gave me peace of mind. Little did I know, that I had three lovey friends to join me for lunch.
Surrounded, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Armed with coffee and sandwich I wandered around, when these kookaburras flew in one by one.
Eyeing out my sandwich at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Nestling in a row of three, side by side, it felt like being in an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Wow. Easy fellas! They were obviously hungry and eyed out my sandwich. It was a bit intimidating. ‘Fair enough, I still had some bread in the car. But, there is one condition! You’ll will have to pick up your afternoon snack from Troopy’s bonnet. And I will have my OM-D handy.’
Three Stooges at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
They must have heard my thoughts as they followed me one by one, sitting on a boulder altogether like the ‘Three Stooges’.
Three pack, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Kookaburras always come in three it seems, whenever there is a potential food source.
Bedazzled at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
One of them must be the younger one, he looked a bit dazzled?
Well focused at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The first bit of bread was placed on the bonnet and it didn’t take long for the first contender to enter the show.
Easy pickup, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
A perfect pick up, excellent balance skills too.
Perfect execution, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
He swerved to his right and landed on the rock, under strict supervision. And quite superbly executed.
Surprise attack, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The other parent flew in from the left and caught me very much by surprise. Kiddo was still learning but eventually gathered his momentum.
Almost there, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Ok, my turn. Definitely not quite as skilled as his parents, he landed on the bonnet. I am not sure why he didn’t grab the crust.
So close, no crust, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Instead, his wings were fluffing in the wind. Poor thing was almost there, only an inch from his pecker.
Laughing kookaburra parents at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
He decided to abort mission, only to be laughed at by his parents. Young kookaburra must have been devastated. Was it stage fright? I did have a giggle to myself as well, that was an interesting effort.
Hand fed, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
There you go! No need to go hungry little one. What a cutie.
Mirror, mirror on the wall…? Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
He still wasn’t sure about the reflections of his own face on my lens, he could have been part of the Muppet Show.
Strike a pose at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The other two kookaburras either wanted more food or were ready to strike a pose. Staging actors, ready to role.
Close up, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
We became close friends.
Very close up, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Quite close in fact.
Stare in the air, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Atherton Tablelands
There were a few poses, like ‘stare in the air’. How about ‘can you see that?’
All clear here, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
I like ‘All clear here!’
Double vision, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
‘Double Vision’
Look over my shoulder, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
‘Look over my shoulder!’
Pirates at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
‘Pirates’
Pirates in black and white, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
and my personal favourite! ‘Pirates in black and white!’
Posing for my lens, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
These kookaburras came up with their usual curious poses right in front of my lens and I kept my finger on the shutter button.
Piercing look, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
You already feel pierced by this look. I had taken so many photos already, it was fantastic.
Kookaburra in sepia, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
All my favourite camera settings came in play, like sepia. Fabulous.
Still not moving much, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Youngster? Nope, still in freeze mode. He didn’t move much, which gave me a great opportunity for some kookaburra photos in an unexpected angle.
Beak focus point, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
He stared right to my lens that I could focus on the tip of the beak, blurring out his face.
Top to bottom view at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
When he wasn’t staring at my lens, I looked right on to his head. The stripy outline of his head extending to his tiger-like tail.
What’s going on over there? Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Now that’s more like it, a curious kookaburra look. Something took his interest.
Back to staring, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Just for a little while though.
Feather spectrum, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
What I really like about kookaburras are their feathered colours. The tail feathers are in tiger stripes, almost glowing in sunlight.
Spangled wings, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Their wings are spangled with blue painted dots on an eagle coloured back. Kookaburras are in the kingfisher family for good reason.
Kingfisher family, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The colourful spectrum really only becomes obvious by closer inspection.
Three lined head, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Their head is marked with three dark lines.
Headline in painting, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The outer ones include their eye sockets, acting just like a mask.
Gangster look, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
Gangsters or clowns of the eucalypts?
Solid beak, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
A solid and oversized pecker is a multi functional tool. Kookaburras love eating snakes and other reptiles.
Perceval and observant, Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
The ground is carefully observed for potential prey. If the hunt was successful, prey gets slapped unconscious before being swallowed whole.
Smiling kookaburra at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
But then, there is how clever they are. This one is literally sitting on his bum, having a good laugh. And so was I.
Farewell kookaburra at Atherton Tablelands, Far North Queensland, Australia
We shook hands as it was time for me to go. No doubt that this won’t be my last photo session with the cheeky Koo-ka-bur-ra.
Travels with Ben 
I’m currently observing a beautiful and cheeky Kookaburra go about its morning feeding(this one is using three different solid and quite low tree branches around the yard to spot earthworm activity then going to ground and using that beak like a spearing shovel as it hops around on two feet pokes around until it gets it’s “early bird” worm then flies back up to its vantage point and proceeds to bash the bejesus out of the worm as it swallows it down) and then it’s back to some serious posing combined with giving me the stare.. They truly are such an amazing bird with what I feel is a unique character and awareness of our presence… Great photos btw.
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Great photos 😉
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Thank you… it was good fun watching them, taking photos was just a bonus..
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