Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree...

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh kookaburra
Laugh kookaburra
How gay your life must be

This kookaburra wasn't sitting in an old gum tree, he was part of a flying display that my father and I watched when we went to a local bird sanctuary that mostly specialises in birds of prey and owls.

The centre was fantastic. So many birds, so well cared for and all the staff and volunteers were an absolute mine of information, both about the birds in general and each individual personality.

This kookaburra enjoyed the opportunity to stretch his wings - he did however, taunt his parents who were still in their aviary - but they all joined in with a raucous chorus of the characteristic laughing.

I'd seen a kingfisher in the village earlier in the morning and was disappointed not to have been able to catch a shot of him. Little did I know I'd be sat next to one of his cousins from the southern hemisphere later on in the day while he chewed on a baby cockerel leg. Hmmm, delicious!