On our second morning at Woodgate Beach I went for a walk along the beach. It was quiet and serene. I saw a couple fishing with the early morning sun glinting off the water. After breakfast we all went for a walk through the wetland forest on the boardwalk but there wasn't any water because the wet season forgot to come this year so everything is very dry. Ann packed us a picnic for lunch and George drove us to Walkers Point which is on the northern bank of the Burrum River. We found a table in the park near the river and set out the picnic. Ann had cooked us an Aberdeen Sausage, which she sliced for us to have with a variety of salads. While we were doing this kookaburras started to gather in the trees around us. We started eating and the kookaburras came closer and closer, laughing at us. We were getting a bit apprehensive as we knew they have been known to steal your food. However, they left us alone until Ann was about to finish off the last slice of sausage. Suddenly one swooped down with his wide wing span and big ferocious beak, landed in Ann's plate and stole the last slice of sausage and flew onto the ground where others tried to get some sausage too. Ann got a fright and knocked over her glass of homemade pear cider. It was a scary but funny event. It reminded me of Hitchcock's 'Birds'.
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| Woodgate Beach |
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| Woodgate Beach |
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| Woodgate Boardwalk |
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| Woodgate Boardwalk |
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| Theodolite Creek Woodgate |
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| Walker's Point |
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| Kookaburra |
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| Burrum River |
As I was recently reminded, it is when things go wrong that make good blog material. We have lost a sausage or two to kookas at barbeques.
ReplyDeleteguess he held out till the last minute and thought well no-one's going to give it to me, I better go get it for myself; they're game aren't they. And yet a Willie Wagtail can attack them and they don't defend themselves, it amazes me
ReplyDeleteWow all I ever knew about the kookaburras was the song and that it sat in the old gum tree and now I know they attack for sausages:) That must have been scary but your photos of this lovely park are beautiful. Hug B
ReplyDeleteAn idyllic place to have lunch, had to laugh about the bird stealing the saucage, a clever one!
ReplyDeleteI am glad the kookaburra only got one piece of sausage.. Looks like a nice picnic, love the kookaburra shot and the pretty beach. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, never had that happen - yet. Would be a bit of a shock.
ReplyDeletePhotos are lovely.
i cannot imagine he is a small bird, either! yikes! :)
ReplyDeletei would so love to see a kookaburra, they are fascinating... they must be like our gulls here at the beaches, they are very aggressive thieves of food.once we were eating on a patio at the beach, a beach side restaurant, when a gull swooped down two tables over and grabbed food... i would not want one swooping on my table. i am afraid of birds
ReplyDeleteDiane,
ReplyDeleteI SO enjoy your adventures, and look forward to more of your memories of your time in New Guinea---I feel as if I've been reading Margaret Mead.
The picture on the boat caught my eye especially---with no idea that it was of an earlier time, I instantly realized that it was of another decade---somehow that was NOT a millennium smile or pose, and I was looking at another day, far from now.
What an exciting, full life you lead, far way away from my own quiet one, and I thank you for sharing all these exotic places and times with me.
rachel
I’d be more upset by losing the cider than the sausage! It would have been frightening for me too I have to admit, but it makes a god tale. Lovely beach pictures.
ReplyDeleteAnn must have been relieved not to have been "zapped" by the bird's claws. We have kites, crows and starlings that steal anything you're carrying on a plate or eating outdoors. It is scary - my heart takes ages to settle down after such an attack! I love the park - you paint a lovely picture about the fishers and the sun on the water. Hope you get some rain soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great walk.
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Hello Dianne
ReplyDeleteNice to see your travel piccies again. Kookaburra sits watches then acts. Sausages beware !
H's had one or two of ours before - no shame either, doesn't matter where we are, back garden or bush BBQ, he just swoops and then is away with his loot lol
Take care
Cathy
I was hoping to do some beach shots this weekend but it is raining and the beach not to my taste anyway. I will post some pics at SW maybe this evening. Gotta get back to blogging :-)
ReplyDeleteloved walking the beach with you - glad I didn't have to share any sausage!
ReplyDeleteWow didn't know those birds were so brave. Love the photos and looks like you had fun.
ReplyDeleteThe setting is absolutely beautiful, but I'm not sure I would want to have a picnic where I had to share my food with the birds.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago we were having a bbq in the hills somewhere. The look on my ex's face was priceless as a kookaburra swooped down and took the sausage from his hands as he was about to eat. The one thing I have missed since moving to the country is walking along the beach. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLove the story of the kookaburra. Reminds me of the resident kookaburra who resented sharing my pool with me when I lived in the Whitsundays. He would swoop low over my head when I cleaned the pool, just once to let me know he was annoyed, then sit on the fence and follow my every move with his eyes. As soon as I finished he'd give himself a bath in the pool! Cheeky begger.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would much enjoy arguing with a kookaburra! They look fierce!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful spot Diane!
ReplyDeleteThose cheeky kookaburras of ours are something aren't they!
I'd want a bit of Aberdeen sausage as well - I haven't heard Aberdeen Sausage since my departed mother-in-law used to make it. It was delicious!
Our great-grandson is afraid of crows because one stole a french fry off his plate when they were at Disney World. (No amount of telling him he can have all the french fries he wants in the world can assuage his fear!) He is not a fearful child -- he will climb trees, mountains, play with bugs and snakes, etc etc, but apparently he is convinced that crows will steal every bite of his food if he isn't careful.
ReplyDeleteI hope Ann recovers more quickly!
Those cheeky Kookas know a good picnic when they see one!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos - a lovely place :D)
I love your kookaburra story. Didn't know they were so aggressive. I grew up singing a song about l
ReplyDeletekookaburras and thinking I would really like to see them, in a gum tree as the song goes, and laughing at me.
Oh my! You have brought back a childhood school memory I haven't thought of in years. I remember in grade school, learning a song about "kookaburras sitting in an old gum (?) tree". We had no idea what a kookaburra was and neither did our teacher. So FINALLY I know what a kookaburra is!! haha Great post. P.S. Upon your request, I posted photos of all my grandchildren (2 posts ago.)
ReplyDeleteKookaburras are beautiful birds but that would give one a fright having one swoop down to steal some food
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful and unusual scenery, Diane! The kookaburras are greedy, are they? They sound like crows or magpies here--they will swoop down for food and are carniverous.
ReplyDeleteLove the scenery and I wish I could say I had a picnic with the kookaburras. I've always been enamored with them. Scary but funny, good description I would say.
ReplyDeleteGoodness me I've seen swooping seagulls Diane, but not Kookaburras .. Shame you didn't get a shot of it :)
ReplyDeleteI've been catching up with you Diane. I've missed so many posts. Love the way you framed this last shot- very nice!
ReplyDeleteKookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he... such memories of that song. :)
A fun outing and such an amazing bird this is!
ReplyDeleteHe was hungry and just waiting for the right moment! :-)
ReplyDelete