I completed the story mode on Red Dead Redemption 2 ages ago.

Since then, I have continued to play the game on a regular basis – something which is no doubt a frustration of my wife, but also, surprisingly, me.

The reason for my impatience is that there are loads of little tasks to undertake, should you wish to reach full completion and a deep sense of satisfaction.

One of these tasks involves, to put it in basic terms, playing the role of David Attenborough. In case you were wondering, no, you don’t organise international campaigns, to clear our oceans of plastic bottles. Did plastic even exist in the Wild West?

The Sir David Attenborough Award (named by yours truly), involves locating and studying all of the game’s wildlife. It is also a requirement to shoot and skin most of the 170-plus animals, located in various spots across the vast virtual landscape – something more Bear Grylls than our Davey. I am making good progress with this task, although one creature has eluded me for ages – the Californian Horned Owl.

I’ve spent the last 3 days stood aimlessly, in a desert – the reported location for the owl. Sometimes a bird will appear in the night’s sky – it’s nearly always a bloody raven. Almost always a raven, never an owl.

I have only seen the owl a small number of times. However, whenever I try to study the damn thing, it flies off! Out of frustration, I did once shoot it, so at least I have its skin and feathers.

Maybe the game is teaching me a lesson in animal welfare? You killed that poor owl. You are a muderer! No more birdies left for you to study now.

As a result of this lesser-spotted owl, I’m  left with a dilemma. For how much longer do I continue searching for it?

I recently treated myself to a number of other games, as well as receiving a couple for Christmas. Do I call it a day with RDR2 and with a heavy heart, move on?

As they say, there’s plenty more fish in the sea, or in this case, games in my collection.

Don’t worry about me. Owl get over it.