Some quite interesting wildlife

I never thought anything of it when the guy with the large spotter scope wandered past this morning, he often does. A little time later he passed in the opposite direction. Then I noticed he was lurking at the end of the garden. Scope set up on tripod, camcorder and binoculars being used in turns. I was mildly curious as to what he was looking at or for as he seemed to be scanning in all directions.

I forgot about him for a bit, then realised he was still there half an hour later. Now however he seemed to be scanning the house. What was going on? Had I been rumbled? My witness protection cover blown? Was it Red's famous detective sent to prove that in actual fact I am not what I appear to be? I was a peedie bit concerned...!

I managed to ignore him until a short while later when I nipped downstairs to make a coffee and settle my nerves... there was another one! This was too much. Two strange men hiding behind a bush at the bottom of my garden are not to be ignored.

I donned wellies and a big jumper and decided to confront them.

"Hi! Whit like? Am I under surveillance or is there something worth looking at in my garden?"

"Oh, hello. Sorry, you've just got some quite interesting wildlife in your garden."

"Oh, aye. Like what?" (I am now worrying that we are going to have hordes of twitchers decending on our garden. But also wondering what on earth it could be.)

"A whitethroat."

" Uhuh... what's that?"

"Well, it's a bit like a squashed sparrow. You can see it on the camcorder if you like."

I then stood in the middle of the road on my tip toes peering at the screen of the camcorder. Whilst discussing this "fairly uncommon migratory" visitor to Orkney.I love the way birdwatchers use terms like that. I guess it means it's not common but it's not rare. Worth phoning a pal twitcher to come and check out but don't get too excited.

I think I made too much noise and chased the little thing away. I think I chased the twitchers away as well as they left soon afterwards. Maybe they saw me taking surveillance pictures of them out of the window and didn't like the thought that I might be an even stranger creature... a twitcher watcher.

After they left I spent a pleasant half hour sitting in our porch drinking my coffee watching the Whitethroat who came out of hiding as soon as they turned their backs.

And it doesn't look anything like a squashed sparrow. It's far too pretty.