On a misty, rainy day, in coastal areas, or if your home is surrounded by bush, like ours is, you're sure to hear the mournful, haunting bubbly sound of a coucal.
However, this common bird is also heard and seen most days here in the valley. Last Sunday we stopped to watch a flycatcher flitting around in the shrubs beside the road. As I focussed on this colourful bird, my screen picked up a larger, even more striking bird. I immediately shifted my focus onto a White-browed Coucal in a bush in the middle-distance.
As we watched this bird gave its liquid, bubbling call and another White-browed Coucal replied from somewhere in the bush behind us. As I wanted to capture my subject in full cry - as it were - we sat and waited for the next call.
The White-browed Coucal ...
...listens for the reply to its original call...
...and replies to that call!
For more beautiful birds around the world, click here
Beautiful photos! Birds are one of my favorite subjects and I know it takes a lot of work to get good ones like these!
ReplyDeleteSeems as birding is always a surprise. Nice series.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo! I just love seeing the beautiful photos of the unusual birds (at least to ME!)
ReplyDeleteWhen I take a moment to really think about you being on the other side of the world and how we share our lives with other bloggers, it just boggles my mind! Hey, I'm Boggled by Bloggers!
Great shots. I love his white brow too as well as his fluffy tummy. I want to learn to photograph birds better but I don't think I have the patience.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bird. How neat to be surrounded by such characters.
ReplyDeleteDarryl and Ruth :)
Cool bird, Jo! Great captures. It must be wonderful to go biridng in Africa.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, that's one I haven't seen before. Nice shot's, Jo.
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving blessings to you and yours.
It doesn't look very friendly ! You really have strange feathered creatures there !
ReplyDeleteLook at the red eyes! Cool looking bird! Nice job, Jo! That's a first for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics of a fascinating bird, Jo. I looked it up on xeno-canto.org: lovely call.
ReplyDeleteInteresting looking bird Jo.
ReplyDeleteI love that red eye.
Jo, your bird-shots have improved out of all recognition with the new camera. I just looked up the song. What a most distinctive call and somehow so 'African' in nature. I can almost feel the heat just listening to it.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful bird to see Jo and many thanks for your kind comments on my post... re the video clip i have found another version to share and it's a delight to see the faces on the girls taking it (they have deleted the Youtube version)wortha look if you get the time..
ReplyDeleteMe... I was born in South Africa in 1956 just south of Durban.. no memories as I was only 2 years old when my parents returned to the UK. My younger brother has been back to see where we were born for his 50th birthday a few years ago.. maybe one day I will get the chance.
Take care.
Interesting bird!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteVery striking bird! Looks like he's trying to hide out in the grass. Nice capture!
ReplyDeleteGreat catch and a awesome thorn tree for a perch. I remember the Thorntree Cafe in Nairobi back in the day. We used to tape messages to the trunk of the tree there. A great hangout. Wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteCheers Joo!
oh, really interesting looking bird. Great photo shoot
ReplyDeleteThe coucal is a cool looking bird. I can just imagine its cry by your description---"bubbling."
ReplyDeleteYour pictures should be features in all of the African outdoors magazines. Seems I remember one named SWARA? Thanks so much for sharing all of these here in blog-land.
ReplyDeletelikkewaan frew up with likkewaan/monitor lizards stealingour ducks anf mum trapping them, and me preparing them I ar=te everything.
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