Same bale 3 times - huge skink escapes and both magpies get a feed - Australian birds

The first visit was a wash - short and off she went. Second visit, longer with both magpies getting a feed. Third visit - a Three-clawed worm-skink bolts for cover and makes it. If you like those quiet little noises they make, you're in for a treat. Same bale three times in one afternoon - you really never know what you're going to get!
She makes those little noises from around 2:18 for ages but at 3:42 the tone changes for a little while. I think she was a bit annoyed with him encroaching on her patch. And again at 4:40 but a bit less vocal. She leaves him to it but he isn't there very long before something attracts his attention and off he goes.
I was quite surprised when she came back a third time at 8:11 and even more surprised a skink (I often call them legless lizards which is incorrect) had moved in. It hadn't been very long at all! She missed out on a very big feed. She had a long look to see if she could get it but she was just too slow off the mark.
She has a couple of excellent scratches at a good camera angle. Nothing very indicative on the “are there eggs in the nest” question today. Did she fly most of the way back to the nest for a quick check on the nest? Maybe... I was a bit preoccupied and didn't track her movements too closely. She sure was chatty though. When he was there, anyway.
It could be interesting if that skink is under the bale when I turn it over. But it could have moved anywhere.
Have a good one!
If you'd like to support the channel you can buy me a bale:
buymeacoffee.c...

[@buckminsterowski]

so cool to be able to hear her little grunts/warbles as she forages. never heard such a thing and I think few people have

[@skullworld7]

Murray, you definitely have a close relationship with your backyard magpies. They know who you are as the provider of fast food 🪳🪰🕷️🐜 roaches, slaters, ants, curl grubs and other arthropods. When the magies see you they always know what is about to happen….especially when you offer them a “bale”… I wonder if they talk or squawk about you when they are roosting in their nest? 🤔 Ps…you have some compassion 💓for the escaping skink…

[@mybackyard36]

Quickest feed in town 👍😁👍 I don't know about the ants or slaters though - I thought they ate slaters but I'm having my doubts lately. Intriguing question about whether they talk about me. "Bale o'clock, let's visit the monkey with the had" maybe. They recognise me without the hat of course - they're very smart birds. Yep, good luck to the skink but when it's time for that next bale...I already know what happens so I'm going to end it there 😯 Cheers Ron 👍👍

[@johndavis7944]

She was very chatty while going about the foraging. I wonder what it was she said to him? Hahaha that was funny when she walked under his tail end after that I noticed her underside (egg pouch) shape and feather colour has changed from white to a very light beige. Did you notice that Murray? I suppose that's due to nesting activity. I know chook hens get rather fluffy around their underside when they're on a clutch of eggs. It must be an incubation thing. One bale, three visits and a lucky lizard. Nice one. Cheers Murray 👍😀🇦🇺

[@mybackyard36]

Whatever she said, she said it at length! I hadn't noticed the beige. I thought there was a lot of pink in that area in the video the previous day at about 4:30 onwards - briefly. I didn't think that was "normal" at the time but it could just be I don't usually pay attention to that area. Extra feathers - I never knew that. Good to know. That lizard's luck ran out. Should get it up today. I have mixed feelings but I didn't intervene. Better do some editing before I get some work done 👍😁👍

[@larrykelly-kf5pp]

🤣Definitely a couple of “ back off buster! “ moments in there. You’ll be speaking magpie in no time 🎉

[@mybackyard36]

I thought Mrs M looked pretty shocked after - I thought - she'd just laid her first egg. First time something that large comes out of you and I can understand why she'd be shocked and amazed. This seemed like "Do you know what I just did and could you stop stealing my roaches?" And he didn't... He's proven himself nicer than Pauly in general, but I don't think he gets it yet. Laying eggs takes a lot out of you. It's a LOT of protein. You need roaches! Pauly at least gave Mrs M a big grasshopper - Pauly knew what was going on. Two newbies...all bets are off 😁

[@larrykelly-kf5pp]

@@mybackyard36 yeah, think there’ll be a few boundaries set and lessons taught this time round!. Thought exactly that… she was making pretty contented peaceful noises and seemed calm and a bit chuffed with everything. Definitely think there are eggs I guess he’ll learn and be a good mate and they’ll successfully raise chicks. Or he won’t . Doesn’t seem to understand she needs FOOD at the moment. Get some condition back before the full time feeding of chicks takes over. Plus she’s probably on the eggs a lot and doesn’t get so many chances to find food Love your take on what’s happening with them. I’m not kidding when I suggest making a documentary. Lots of us would enjoy watching it. Big market out here for your gentle observation. Cheers 🥂

[@carolegarland8050]

He can sense the skink but not see it! How frustrating. Do you have any of those Rainbow skinks around. I would love to see them again.

[@mybackyard36]

They are a bit light on the ground at the moment - the rainbows. I have a hatchling release I've not shown as it never came up but there seem to be less of them around in the colder weather. Maybe they're snuggled somewhere warm... By the way, would you still like some Society garlic?