|
Where to Watch Birds in World Cities
Paul Milne
|
|
If your like me, many overseas trips are for business or for family holidays, and birding opportunities may be frustratingly brief. This book is aimed at all birders who would like to make the most of their trips abroad, even when birding time is limited. It covers top birding sites which are within easy travelling distance of 60 of the world's largest city centres. It includes detailed travel and access information as well as overviews of the sites' habitats, species likely to be seen, and advice on the best times to visit. Armed with this guide, a travelling birder will easily be able to plan an enjoyable few hours of birding, perhaps between meetings or connecting flights, even in an unfamiliar country.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bird Guide
Killian Mullarney, Lars Svennsson, Dan Zetterstrom and Peter Grant
|
|
Practically the best UK field guide we have found. It provides all the information needed to identify any species at any time of the year, with detailed text on size, habitat, range, identification and voice. Accompanying every species entry is a distribution map and numerous illustrations to show the species in all the major plumages (male, female, immature, in flight, at rest, feeding, etc). Each group of birds has an introduction, which covers the major problems involved in identifying or seeing them, including: how to organize a sea watching trip; how to separate birds of prey in flight; and which duck hybrids can be confused with which species.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tree Guide
Oen Johnson and David More
|
|
Like the Bird Guide this book is practically the best fully illustrated guide to the trees of Britain and non-Mediterranean Europe. The introduction contains illustrations of the main leaves, buds, and firs you are likely to find, and these provide the starting point for identification by leading you to a 'key' species. Within each tree family there is a list of key species and a guide to the most important features to look for when identifying a particular tree from that family. The illustrations are annotated with essential identification features, and the text highlights the most important things to look for to aid fast and accurate identification. There is also coverage of all the species native to Southern Europe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The New Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe
Peter Hayman, Rob Hume
|
|
An excellent little book for keeping in the car and general reference. This book is a compact and concise pocket-size field guide to 430 species of birds that live in or regularly visit Britain and the rest of Europe. The guide is organised in scientific order, with at least six illustrations of each species. The written text is presented in captions and annotations, explaining how to correctly identify different species. Symbols show at a glance in which habitats each bird can be found and at what time of year each is present - both essential factors for correct identification.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Birds of Europe: With North Africa and the Middle East
Lars Jonsson
|
|
This is an excellent illustrated guide covering all but a few of the Western Paleactic's breeding birds, and includes information on all regularly encountered vagrants.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Birding Spots in Britain and Ireland
David Tipling
|
|
This guide to birdwatching spots in Britain and Ireland covers over 400 sites including all RSPB reserves. Each site has a general description, plus details of what can be seen in each season, access, and for non-birdwatchers in the family, other attractions in the area. Excellent chapters on Trimley Marshes, Walberswick, Minsmere RSPB and Havergate Island RSPB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where to Watch Birds in East Anglia
Peter and Margaret Clarke
|
|
A good all round guide to birding sites within Suffolk and the rest of East Anglia. The authors provide in-depth coverage of the best sites in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. For this edition, site accounts and maps have been fully revised and there is a new section - The Change in Status of the Area's Breeding Birds
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rambling in the Sandlings
Shiona Hardie
|
|
An excellent little book detailing walks throughout the Suffolk Sandlings, recommending places to eat and also items of local interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Suffolk Sandlings
Robert Simper
|
|
A highly interesting book telling the story of Sandling farms and villages as they used to be when most of the area was part of three huge estates, Orwell Park, Rendlesham and Bawdsey Estates. The period covered is from the Saxons of Sutton Hoo, to the wooden ship building at Woodbridge in the 17th Century and follows the life of this town and district to the present time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Suffolk Estuaries
C. H. Beardall., R. C. Dryden and T. J. Holzer
|
|
A very interesting scientific report, by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, on the wildlife and conservation of the Suffolk Estuaries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland
Paul Waring, Martin Townsend and Richard Lewington
|
|
Excellent illustrations and a ‘must have’ at any summer moth night!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Woodpeckers of Europe: A Study of the European Picidae
Gerard Gorman and Szabolcs Kokay
|
|
The book covers all aspects of the natural history of the ten European species, including evolution, taxonomy, topography, flight patterns and drumming. There are full detailed accounts of each species. Other chapters deal with their country status, forestry, their relationship with man and other fauna, and field observation. It is illustrated with ten colour plates and with over 70 original drawings by Szabolcs Kokay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Wild Flower Key: A Guide to Plant Identification in the Field, with and Without Flowers
Francis Rose
|
|
An excellent guide to the wild flowers of the British Isles and North West Europe, describing 1400 species.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland
Richard Lewington
|
|
A good general pocket guide to British butterflies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland
Steve Brooks and Richard Lewington
|
|
A superb little book with excellent illustrations of the various dragonflies and damselfies which may be seen within the UK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos
Richard Brooks
|
|
Together with the regular updates, this book is a MUST for any birder visiting this island for the first time. There is general information useful to those not familiar with the Greek islands, although more detail about the weather in spring, when most birders are likely to visit, would be useful. The site guide and accompanying sketch maps are remarkably accurate and detailed - on many occasions specific sites turned up the promised birds right on cue, which, it has to be said, doesn't often happen with site guides. The systematic list is comprehensive, listing every bird recorded on Lesvos together with detailed information on status, distribution, and occurrence. The book contains a useful index to the bird species, and contains some stunning photographs taken by the author to wet the appetite.
|
|
|
|
|
|
British Birds: Their Names, Folklore and Literature
Francesca Greenoak
|
|
Species by species, this text delves into this heritage of bird lore, discussing the origin of the bird's name, any regional variations in that name, and any folklore attached to that species. Alongside this it provides examples of the role particular species have played in poetry and prose.
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Birdwatching Guide to Mallorca
Jon King and Graham Hearl
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wildlife Walks: A Guide to the Top Wildlife Sites in the UK
Malcolm Tait
|
|
This guide offers both nature lovers and families everything they need to know when looking for a day out in the fresh air and being part of the UK's conservation drive. It provides the key to exploring these open spaces and the creatures great and small that inhabit them. Published in association with The Wildlife Trust.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pocket Guide to Birds of the Indian Subcontinent
Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskip and Tim Inskipp
|
|
This is a pocket version companion to "Birds of the Indian Subcontinent" covering all the bird species found in India, Pakistian, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The plates face the descriptions for quick at-a glance reference. This guide provides tables, summarising identification features of particularly difficult groups such as nightjars, warblers and rosefinches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prion Birdwatchers' Guide to the Canary Islands
D. Collins and A.G. Clarke
|
|
This excellent guide provides detailed information on birding sites on this island archipelago, each site entry giving location and access, accommodation, birding strategy and species expected to be seen. It also includes a selective bird list giving brief details on the distribution and status of the uncommon birds which may be found, cross-referenced to site information, and a full species list. Additionally, the guide supplies useful information on planning a trip, such as travel, climate and clothing, health and medical facilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Where to Watch Birds in Scotland
Mike Madders and Julia Welstead
|
|
There are many birdwatching sites in Scotland and consequently all cannot be included in this guide. The author claims to have difficulty in making choices, but he made his decisions according to whether inclusion would cause problems which would be detrimental to birdlife; whether there were problems relating to site access, possibly exacerbated by increased numbers of visitors, and whether there was accessibility to the site with adequate vantage points. The sites were then graded according to bird interest, importance and suitability and decisions made as to whether they were main or additional asites. A reasonable distribution of sites was then made and included to offer a balanced number of entries.
"How to use this book" is an excellent feature in the guide which should be studied. This section describes how the sites are split into regions, such as Borders, Grampians and Highlands, and how each site is dealt with, explaining habitat, species, access, timing and calendar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa
Kevin Baker
|
|
Many warblers are notoriously difficult to identify. This guide covers 145 species, covering all aspects of identification. The text includes sections on moult, voice, habitat and behaviour, distribution and measurements. Colour plates and a distribution map are provided for all the species
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seabirds: An Identification Guide
Roger Tory Peterson and Peter Harrison
|
|
The book has absolutely everything you need to know about seabirds. It is written in a very logical way and the plates are very good. The illustrations usually show several views of a species and each bird has been given an individual account. The text treats each species in depth, stressing the various distinct colours forms within species and closely examining the sub-species. Flight, behaviour, distribution and similar species are fully discussed. Each illustration has a facing caption page which is cross-referenced to the main body of the text for quick identification.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shorebirds: An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World
Peter Hayman, John Marchant and Tony Prater
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Field Guide to the Birds of North America
National Geographic Society
|
|
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America continues to be the most sought-after, the most authoritative, and the easiest to access field guide to birds on the market. Now in its 4th Edition, revisions include 250 updated range maps, and new classification information National Geographic is reissuing the Field Guide to the Birds of North America in the 4th edition, focusing on its accuracy and easy use in the field. This is the ultimate birders field guide - sturdy, easy to carry and use, and featuring the most complete information among bird guides. It features all species known to breed in North America, including those that are regular visitors to our continent or that drop in occasionally - more than 800 in all. The edition is lavishly illustrated with specially commissioned full-colour illustrations, plus newly updated range maps and detailed descriptions. A superb new index allows birders in the field to quickly identify a species.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook of Field Identification
Dick Forsman
|
|
This book presents the most complete and up-to-date guide for the recognition of the diurnal raptors of Europe and the Middle East. More than 700 high quality color photographs have been specifically chosen to demonstrate the plumage of each age and sex class of every species found in Europe and the Middle East. The photographs are complemented by almost 100 line drawings focusing on particular identification details, and are backed up by a detailed text enabling birdwatchers to recognize even the most difficult species. The latest information, much of it previously unpublished, describes the plumage and soft part coloration of each category of bird, and compares and contrasts with similar plumages of species which may cause confusion. The book discusses the difficulties caused by stage of moult, variation in light conditions, and changes in silhouette arising from different flight types. Fully referenced with a list of nearly 300 key papers and articles, this book is an essential reference to the field identification of every species, age, and sex class of raptors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sparrows and Buntings: A Guide to the Sparrows and Buntings of North America and the World
Clive Byers, Jon Curson and Urban Olsson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Watching Wildlife in Suffolk: A Guide to Suffolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves
Audrey Boyle and Bill Stevenson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The BTO Nestbox Guide
Chris Du Feu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sloightly on Th' Huh!
Charlie Haylock
|
|
A celebration of the rich Suffolk dialect and a ‘must have’ for all visitors to Suffolk!. The text and cartoons from Richard Scollins provide a feast of linguistic fun and capture well the warmth and humour of Suffolk people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spread Your Wings: A Guide to Five RSPB Reserves on the Suffolk Coast
Jenny James and John Grant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
