The ornithologists.
In the park this morning I encountered Billy on the bridge. ?What?s that bird over there ?? Said Billy. ?Over where?? I said. ?Over there, by the small island?, he said, ?on that thing sticking out the water, It looks like a pigeon to me.? ?No, it?s not a pigeon ?I said, ?It looks more like a parrot or a cockatoo?. ?It?s a pity we have not got a pair of binoculars?, said Billy. ?Hang on ?I said, ?I?ve got a pair in the car, I will go and get them. Coming back with the binoculars (?6.75 from Aldi?s) I focused on the mystery bird. ?It?s still not clear, but it looks like a bird of pray, hang on, It looks like a barn owl, have a look yourself,? I said. ?Yes, it?s definitely a barn owl, but what?s it doing there in this weather,? said Billy. ?Maybe it?s injured, it might have been attacked?I said. ?Lets move round the lake to get a better look, I?m still not sure?, said Billy, By this time, big Ron and Phil where coming towards use from the opposite direction. ?What are you two looking at? said big Ron, ?A bird? said Billy. ?I hope it?s the feathered kind? said big Ron. ?Of course it is, what else would it be in the middle of the lake? said Billy.
Looking again from a different angle, I still couldn?t make out what type of bird it was.
?From here you can only see it from side on?, I said, ?but it looks as if it is definitely injured, one wing looks broken?. ?Lets have a look,?said big Ron, taking the binoculars from my hand. ?I don?t know what it is?, he said, after looking ?I wouldn?t know one bird from another?.
Phil said ?here?s George walking down, he will know what kind it is; He?s always feeding the pigeons?. ?What?s going on here?, shouted George, walking towards us.
?Have a look at this bird, George, and tell us what you think it is?, I shouted.
Taking the binoculars, George focused on the mystery bird again. We waited with baited breath for the professional verdict.
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?It?s a Lesser Spotted Tesco?! Said George, ?it?s a plastic bag!! It?s been there for some time now; the wind must have ripped it making it flap about?!!!
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