Misty morning hop

I've probably written a post with this title several times before. I am old and going senile, and short on time, cannot look it up as a good writer would. No matter. I've been ekeing out a small amount of birding as the best migration period comes to an end - Red-backed Shrike aside it has been poor. Two Pied Flycatchers were good, but I've had only a single Redstart, and only five Spotted Flycatchers. I'd expect multiples of that. Whether this is a microcosm of larger nationwide, nay global issues, or whether this is the result of the landowner's careless hacking followed by the fire I don't know, but this year has felt very hard, harder than any that have gone before. It is still beautiful though, and a pleasure to be rather than stuck behind glass.