I had the most incredible close encounter with a merlin on Monday. I was parked at the top of the Warth Hill as I watched her fly low over the road towards me and land on my drivers side wing mirror! I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or the bird, but as soon as she noticed me she took off and landed 10 metres away in the heather.

Last October, when I was living in Orphir, I was lucky enough to watch one land on my roun. I thought then that I'd never get such a close view of one again.