Kookaburra seen and heard in Yorkshire (1 Viewer)

[Stu-Silver]

Hi all

This morning my fiance and I drove to a local spot where we walk, and whilst togging up at the back of the car, we heard a really loud and very unusual call from very close by. It stopped us both in our tracks, and I said 'What the hell was that'! It was a completely unnatural call, and almost spooky.

I went down the road a couple of yards, and the bird landed in a tree above my head, I instantly put my binoculars straight on it, and it was a Kookaburra, no doubt about it. I went straight to the car for my camera, and it flew across a field into a distant tree before I could get a shot. So, I desperately grabbed my scope and started attaching my camera to try and get a shot of it, and it flew out of sight behing some trees! AArrghhhh, it was SO annoying. We spent the next hour looking for it, and heard it call 3 more times, saw it from distance twice, but only fleeting glances. I think the crows were giving it a hard time so it kept moving on.

I have just got home and searched for Kookaburra calls on the internet, and it was definately the same bird. A loud, and noisy cackle like laugh not something you expect to hear on a snowy morning in Huddersfield.

I have also just searched the local newspaper web-site, and there was a reported sightings last year, and 1 a couple of weeks ago at a nearby village! Looks like it can handle the cold weather there are 9 months between sightings, and it must have over wintered.

It is now my mission to get a decent photo of it, starting tomorrow morning, apparently they are more likely to call early morning, and then at dusk before roosting. Watch this space, I will let you know if I get a picture.

 

[birdman]

Hmmm... well they can certainly "overwinter" as there are loads at Harewood.

My West Yorks geography is not all that hot, so I'm not sure where Huddersfield is in relation to Harewood... but not far, as the Kookaburra flies, I should imagine.

I bet it was quite a sight though!

 

[Tannin]

I have some difficulty imagining the familiar sound of a Kookaburra in the unfamiliar green surrounds of Yorkshire, but once conjured up, the mental image is delightful. One wouldn't like to see them take the place over (as they have, for example, in New Zealand and Western Australia - they were introduced to those places maybe 100 years ago), but the odd one here and there would be charming.

I assume that it was the Laughing Kookaburra, not the Blue-winged - being a pretty strictly tropical creature, I imagine that the Blue-winged Kookaburra would have great difficulty with an English winter. Indeed, I'm rather surprised that the Laughing Kookaburra copes. Perhaps it flies south for the winter - the distance to France is, after all, not much at all by Australian standards. On the other hand, I don't think they move around much in their natural envoronment. I'mm off for a day's birding in 5 minutes time, but when I get a moment, I'll look it up and confirm.

 

[Stu-Silver]

I would think Harewood is around 40 - 50 Miles away, so not too far. Where are they kept there, are they outside in cages? It certainly was a laughing Kookaburra, and when it called I could not imagine what it would be that was making such a noise. I searched the internet to see if someone had lost one, but there was nothing.

Got a short but detailed view of it just above in a sycamore tree, and knew what it was, and a quick search for 'Kookaburra sounds' on Google confirmed it beyond doubt.

If its an escapee which it must be, it has adapted to its environment very well and I am sure they would thrive over here if given the chance.

 

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Hi Stuart
Where abouts in Huddersfield is the Kookaburra?. My father (who is also a birder) lives there and would be interested in seeing the bird, although clearly an escape. When I lived there I had one of the Harewood White Storks fly through Bretton Country Park. Looks as if Harewood House must have it's own special release programme going on!!!.

 

[jpoyner]

What sort of call does Belted Kingfisher make, just a thought!?

 

[birdman]

I would think Harewood is around 40 - 50 Miles away, so not too far. Where are they kept there, are they outside in cages? It certainly was a laughing Kookaburra, and when it called I could not imagine what it would be that was making such a noise. I searched the internet to see if someone had lost one, but there was nothing.

Got a short but detailed view of it just above in a sycamore tree, and knew what it was, and a quick search for 'Kookaburra sounds' on Google confirmed it beyond doubt.

If its an escapee which it must be, it has adapted to its environment very well and I am sure they would thrive over here if given the chance.

Certainly had an aviary-full when I was last there... and I guess they must get out occasionally when the wardens go in.

 

[Stu-Silver]

Hi Jules

The bird was seen on Bank Foot Road which is situated in Almondbury. It is a small road that runs between Woodsome Road and Sharpe Lane. If approaching the lane from Woodsome Road, it was sat in a tree just beyond the first houses you pass on the right. There was a reported sighting last May no more than a mile away near King James School.

I went back today with my camera, but did not see any sign of it, or hear it. I will keep checking for a while though and try and get a photograph of the bird. If your dad doesn't see it, then there were an abundance of Nuthatch in the trees also, they are almost like mini Kingfishers with there blue backs and orange fronts.

 

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Hi Jules

The bird was seen on Bank Foot Road which is situated in Almondbury. It is a small road that runs between Woodsome Road and Sharpe Lane. If approaching the lane from Woodsome Road, it was sat in a tree just beyond the first houses you pass on the right. There was a reported sighting last May no more than a mile away near King James School.

I went back today with my camera, but did not see any sign of it, or hear it. I will keep checking for a while though and try and get a photograph of the bird. If your dad doesn't see it, then there were an abundance of Nuthatch in the trees also, they are almost like mini Kingfishers with there blue backs and orange fronts.

Thanks Stuart
My dad lives in Dalton so not too far away from him, I'm sure he will be up tomorrow sometime.

 

[Stu-Silver]

Wow, whatever next!

That would have been a sight, someone will be able to start an aussie bird safari here in the UK before long. I'm sure someone will notice their Emus are missing before long, it would be fun watching them trying to catch them again, thats assuming that they have not wandered onto the motorway! Now that would be a shock to the system. 'Sorry about the car dear, I hit a bird on the motorway'

 

[Bluetail]

What sort of call does Belted Kingfisher make, just a thought!?

A dry wooden rattle, more like a Mistle Thrush's alarm call than anything else this side of the Atlantic. You couldn't call it a laugh.

 

[Keithec]

Hi all

I have also just searched the local newspaper web-site, and there was a reported sightings last year, and 1 a couple of weeks ago at a nearby village! Looks like it can handle the cold weather there are 9 months between sightings, and it must have over wintered.

It may not be the same bird. There could quite possibly have been 2 escapes from somewhere.

Keith

 

[julien]

What an amazing story, loved and laughed at David Bryant's comments. I feel sorry for it especially if it is alone, they are mostly found in pairs. Looking forward to your photograph of it when you take it.
Julien

 

[A CHAPLIN]

The Great Escape?????? Tonight there was a flock of 15 Emus by the M6 South of Rugby! I'd assumed they were being reared for meat, but with the record above, we have to assume there's a container-load of Aussie birds on the loose! LOL!

Hi David,

We have one or two Ostrich farms in Lancashire, started when farmers couldn't sell cattle because of BSE. I still look twice when being driven past them, you don't expect to see an Ostrich looking at you. I have been told the meat tastes very good and has less fat content, haven't tried it myself, how long does it take to cook an Ostrich breast or drumstick?

Ann Chaplin

 

[Stu-Silver]

Keith

The chances are it is the same bird, because the two previous sightings which I found are all within a few miles of each other, roughly located in the same valley. I hope in some ways it would have another of its own kind around, because it must be quite unnatural for it.

however if we have a pair that have escaped, then breeding could be a possibility. If they are finding enough food, and can deal with the climate. who knows. Its not too different from parts of Tasmania climate wise, and they do well there.

 

[pauco]

Hi David,

We have one or two Ostrich farms in Lancashire, started when farmers couldn't sell cattle because of BSE. I still look twice when being driven past them, you don't expect to see an Ostrich looking at you. I have been told the meat tastes very good and has less fat content, haven't tried it myself, how long does it take to cook an Ostrich breast or drumstick?

Ann Chaplin

About as long as it takes to break their eggs and fry em! :scribe:

 

[timmyjones]

Stu i would love to see these pics how cool this is really wierd reading this thread i wonder what'l be next...............

 

[Stu-Silver]

You can see the pictures when and if I manage to take them. The bird could have been anywhere that morning, but we were really lucky to be where we were, at the time we were. It called which we heard very very close, landed above us for no more than 30 seconds, and flew away again, just a few seconds after some crows landed in the same tree. I am hopeful of finding it again though, I have a hunch!

I will let you know.

 

[timmyjones]

have u managed any pics yet ??????????

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

One wouldn't like to see them take the place over (as they have, for example, in New Zealand...

While it is an interesting sighting, I think the chance of them actually taking over on the British Isles is rather low - they're not too happy about the cold and are generally sedentary. Within the last 150 years or so there have been several deliberate attempts at introducing them to New Zealand, none of them truly successful. Their occurence in NZ is very local and the last estimate I heard was "less than 500 individuals". Regardless, they're quite amazing birds. From what is mentioned I don't think there can be any doubts about the ID - their voice alone is rather unique.