Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree...

... or rather Kookaburra sits on the washing line in a suburban back yard of Coff's Harbour.I spotted this Laughing Kookaburra in the neighbours garden while we were staying with NewMan's Mum in Coff's Harbour and I quickly snapped a photo. Kookaburras are hardly unusual or uncommon birds in Australia but NewMan tells me in his dulcet Aussie tones "you don't see them everyday, love" so that was reason enough to take a photo.

Of course, to me they are very rare and I find the noises they make so strange and foreign. Their squawks are the love child of a hyena's laugh and a monkey's screech; not at all the noise you'd expect to hear from a bird.Now every time I hear a Kookaburra I can't help but smile to myself. It's an audible reminder that I am in Australia.

P.S. Any idea what this fella has in his mouth? I can't work out if it's a clothes peg or a bit of leftover BBQ-ed turkey from Christmas Day?