John Cantelo
Well-known member
An operation on my right hand at the end of October hasn’t gone entirely to plan as I am still have very little grip in that hand (although some say I lost my grip years ago). Hence I’m still not able to drive and, largely as a consequence of this, I’ve not been able to get out birding since then. It’s the longest I’ve gone without birding since I was about 12 (a long time ago!) and served to remind me just how important getting out in the field is for me. Note the slight change in emphasis. Happily, yesterday I managed to get to Stodmarsh – seeing Marsh Harrier, various ducks, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, etc (but missing Bittern). What rather surprised me was that it wasn’t really the birds that I was missing as much as enjoying fresh air, the countryside and simply walking through fairly 'wild' habitats. Don’t mistake me, I still enjoyed the birds, but it made me realise that, in some ways, they are an excuse and almost ancillary to the whole experience.
It made me wonder why we go birding ….
It made me wonder why we go birding ….