money well spent

I got a new scope recently, with a rather nice 25-50x zoom. This got me wondering how far off-patch I could see stuff, whilst out scanning for divers this morning. Like, is there anything to see on those rocks over there approximately 2.5 km away? Yes, there are 3 oystercatchers and some small dark waders hopping about. Could those small dark waders be small enough and dark enough to be purple sandpipers? Only one way to find out! Drive 2 km and scan the rock from a bit closer! Why look! Three oystercatchers and half a dozen purple sandpipers hopping about! Am I definately looking at the right rock? Only one way to find out! Drive 2 km back to the patch and have another look at the rock again! Why look! Three oystercatchers and some purple sandpipers hopping about! That's a patch tick no less! Result! (64)

When I got home, I realised the rock was also visible from the house, but alas, a wicked heat haze had sprung up in the time it took to get home, dashing my chances of a "from the garden" tick but now I know where to look they should be a dead cert!