We’ve all got species that, try as we might, we struggle to connect with. For a long time, mine was Ptarmigan (in the UK at least). On numerous trips to Scotland, I seemed to miss them by seconds, including having a cloud descend to obscure the birds that the rest of the group had seen atop Cairn Gorm just a few minutes previously.
But Paul Brook’s article, on p26, is reminder to try, try and try again. He finally cleared his list of bogey birds after several years of searching, but also makes the key point that in doing so, he also saw other birds he hadn’t expected, and enjoyed some great birdwatching. Without wanting to get too zen about it, it’s a reminder that the journey is what it’s all about. And much the same applies to the migration hotspots David Lindo writes about – you don’t know exactly what you’ll see there, but the joy is in the finding out.
This month magazine, remember to be open to the surprises that autumn can bring, and please let us know what comes your way. Happy birding, all of you!
Matt Merritt, editor

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