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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TwoDipsfromAmsterdam" data-source="post: 1376661" data-attributes="member: 67259">Interested in John's comments re the cons of the Collins'. Talking to a French birder last summer he felt that its main problem was overcrowding of species, not a million miles from John's point. Is it really necessary to have so many vagrants? Given the difficulties often associated with vagrants, a guide to European and MENA birds, designed to be carried in the field, is unlikely to be conclusive and, in many cases, won't do justice to their identification. His suggestion was to cut out most of these vagrants (perhaps leaving in a few of the "regular" vagrants (e.g. Pectoral Sandpiper) and devote more space to the finer distinctions of the birds of the area stated on the cover. I must say that I have some sympathy with this view. That said, I still think it's the best and am looking forward greatly to the new edition.David</blockquote>