When I've stopped laughing. . . I'll echo all of the above!
Sparrowhawk on back fence . . . camera locked away safely out of reach in the safe where it lives during the week. . .
Heron to (empty of fish) pond in our back garden . . . camera still safe . . .
Several large common hawkers visiting same pond . . . camera still safe . . .
Very recently a couple of good sunsets across the flash at work . . . camera still safe . . .
and a host of others over the years. . . camera safe in bag, behind seat, in the boot. . .
but the best - the very best - way back in 1990 during my first ever visit to the Outer Hebrides (long before I knew I would just keep coming back). I was camping on my own (for only the second time) on the Isle of Barra and the loos are 2 miles away from chosen tent spot. So you have to set off first thing in the morning for a pit stop. . . as I wended my way along the narrow road - feeling gobsmacked by the views, the weather (glorious for once - and before (I learned it could play rough!) a rugby-shaped brown bird walked in front of the car. I skidded to a stop and watched this corncrake disappear under my bonnet . . . please god let the car stop short. . . it appeared from under the middle of the car - unhurt - and walked alongside my drivers door - about 15 inches below me - with I swear a wicked grin on its face!
And the camera? Safe in its little bag behind the drivers seat. . . arghhhhhhhhh!!! I sat on a gate for an hour and half and watched and listened to it calling halfway up the field, until finally I could not hold off the pit stop any longer and had to hobble cross-legged to the car and drive somehow the rest of the way to the loos. . .
Pauline