Rarely a day will pass without some form of feathered wildlife visiting our garden. Usually it’s parrots, magpies, pigeons, honeysuckers or finches and sometimes we’re blessed with the odd butcherbird dropping by. But not usually babies and they don’t usually stay long.

A few days ago I was privileged to watch two young butcherbirds fossick around an empty hanging basket – empty because the plant died from neglect and I haven’t made it a priority to replace it. They seemed amiable enough together yet childish like two schoolboys intent on teasing each other, neither one knowing when to end the conflict.

Pulling each other’s tails, grabbing their opponent by the neck interspersed with wild flapping was the order of the day. At first I thought this must have been a mating ritual but they were too young and it’s the wrong time of year for that sort of carry-on.

Needless to say, they entertained us for a while before their passing visit expired.

You can follow the complete match here.