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Bond... James Bond

Hi there,

I hope this isn't too OT. Today was the first time I felt unwelcome as a birdwatcher. I always thought I had an innocent face, but today I learned otherwise. :-)

I was out at lunchtime, wandering around the parking lot of a manufacturing business (which will remain nameless <g>) around the corner from my office. I had been searching the brush for feral kittens, but as I got back to my car, I saw a large hawk fly in and land in the top of a pine that towered many feet over the building.

As I was right next to my car, I got out my binoculars and pointed them almost straight up to check out the bird. He did not cooperate, only showing me his back, so I never did get an ID. Anyway, just as I was steadying myself against the car, I heard a male voice calling out.

"Hey! What are you doing, there!?"

I looked up, and found a burly chap in coveralls was approaching me. He asked me again what I was doing, and I told him I was birdwatching. 

"Birdwatching? Eh, well, I suppose that could be true," he said, "But how can I be sure?" His eyes narrowed. "For all I know, you could be spying on the company." 

I refrained from asking him how many of his company's secrets are filed in the tops of pine trees.

"So, what kind of hawk is that, then?" He asked me, when I pointed the bird out to him. I admitted that I couldn't tell. He got a smug look on his face and nodded. 

"Right... right. Birdwatcher, eh?" 

I decided to make good my daring escape before he called security. I apologized for trespassing (but did not mention that there are NO signs up forbidding it) and thanked him for not arresting me.

In all fairness, as soon as he realized that I wasn't a corporate spy, he was very polite. He explained that I was on private property, and that his boss would be all over him if he didn't at least come out and say something to me.

So, nothing like a little industrial espionage to brighten up the afternoon! :-D

PS: Anyone know the double meaning of my subject header?

Lisa G.
LisaBirder@aol.com
Raleigh, NC