Had a bit of help from a native....

[Auzzie Gumtree]

Just finishing off a bit of splitting and was taking 5 mins and a drink when a kookaburra thought he would like to help and pick up some of the bugs i had uncovered. Its one of my fav birds

 

[Lake Girl]

Good sized bird. Nice that you have a helper with the bugs. Have to say, he's nicer looking than a chicken

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

its very similar to a King Fisher and the weird thing with them is their laughing call - its very distinctive. Also when they get any food (dead or alive) they bash it from side to side and then align it up straight down.

 

[tiswood]

Never seen one of those. I have seen the king fishers you mentioned. What's their home range?

 

[Sconnie Burner]

Pretty cool looking bird and nice stack of wood. Do you have a gum tree near by? This reminded me of the swing we used to sing as Kids: Kookaburra, Kookaburra in the old Gum Tree.....

 

[tiswood]

Wow just looked it up, Australia.... No wonder I have never seen one lol. I'm a few miles out of the home range. Cool looking bird.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

They are cool, they can get quite tame I used to feed a couple of them bacon rind out of my hand.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

Pretty cool looking bird and nice stack of wood. Do you have a gum tree near by? This reminded me of the swing we used to sing as Kids: Kookaburra, Kookaburra in the old Gum Tree.....

You could say I have quite a few gum trees. The one in my avatar was taken a couple of years ago. They can get pretty big around here 300 ft and above......

 

[Lake Girl]

Pretty cool looking bird and nice stack of wood. Do you have a gum tree near by? This reminded me of the swing we used to sing as Kids: Kookaburra, Kookaburra in the old Gum Tree.....

.... and the next line is "Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh"

Belted kingfisher is the common one in North America; two others are more Texas/Arizona birds - ringed and green. Had to go looking for info
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/id

 

[chazcarr]

Better than those swooping birds I hear so much about. Magpies?

 

[Lake Girl]

Magpies have their place ... they harvest wood ticks. I say keep up the good work. Part of the jay family of birds but with very long tails. Haven't had them swooping here so maybe you are thinking of another bird? Black-billed magpie is a midwest/western bird... http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-billed_magpie/lifehistory

Australian magpie info from wikipedia ... but in spring a small minority of breeding magpies (almost always males) become aggressive and swoop and attack those who approach their nests, especially bike riders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_magpie

 

[Oldman47]

Good looking bird and it is eating bugs like a bluejay would. Great pictures you posted of it.

 

[turn_n_burn]

I love a little variety, Auzzie, you never fail to impress. I'd love some of that blackwood you posted about a while back. That was the best looking wood I have ever seen.