Kookaburra companion

Just as the robin-redbreasts would follow my father around his gardens in England as he was digging, excitedly waiting for any juicy worms or insects brought to the surface - so too now am I joined by such lovely avian company while I'm working here in my gardens in Australia, in the form of kookaburras.

This particular kookaburra has been flying in this past week. It is small, so perhaps still a juvenile.

What a humbling joy to be deemed trustworthy enough by a wild creature, spending just a small moment with them.

Kookaburras are the world's largest kingfisher (family Alcedinidae), these being purely terrestrial.

Just as the robins did with my father, here is my visitor perched atop my spade handle, watching, watching, ever alert.