South Downs Way, Day 2 Meonstoke to Buriton - A bird in the Hand

I fancy myself as a bit of a birder.

One of our main reasons for halting as we tromp along is for me to watch a lark circling in the blue, or set my Merlin App to identify a medley of birdsong emerging from a thicket.

Today on the South Downs Way we were passing between a tree-lined hedge and a bank of tall grass. Robin and yellowhammer were singing in the hedge.

But then very loud and very close by came the unmistakable call of the eponymous chiff-chaff.

'That's weird. Chiff-chaffs usually sing from a tree but this one sounds like it's coming from the long grass.'

'Yes. It's really loud, like it's really close too.'

I thought maybe my ability to locate sounds was deteriorating with age.

'Mmm - it's playing tricks on my hearing too.' 

For a number of minutes, we peered about us for the little bird.

But finally we needed to get going.

However, as we strode on, the chiff-chaff appeared to be coming with us.

Wait a minute.

I put my hand in my pocket and drew out my phone. One of my bird apps had switched on and was playing the song of the chiff-chaff. 

A bird in the hand is said to be worth two in the bush. But what about a bird in the pocket?