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Random Musings => Miscellany => Where The Wild Things Are => Topic started by: Ray 6701 on 26 January, 2010, 05:34:53 pm

Title: Bird watching book
Post by: Ray 6701 on 26 January, 2010, 05:34:53 pm
Hello, could anyone recommend me a good british bird watching book.

Many thanks!
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: pcolbeck on 26 January, 2010, 07:00:37 pm
The Collins Bird Guide is the definitive reference these days. This is the hard cover version (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Bird-Guide-Lars-Svensson/dp/0007267266/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264532285&sr=8-1) but it is also available in paperback.
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Really Ancien on 26 January, 2010, 07:13:31 pm
I'd go for this one.

   The Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe Rob  Hume | WHSmith.co.uk
 (http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=9781845334352&shop=10004&type=Froogle)

Damon.
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Rig of Jarkness on 26 January, 2010, 07:14:53 pm
Quote from: fungus on 26 January, 2010, 05:34:53 pm
Hello, could anyone recommend me a good british bird watching book.

Are you looking for one to carry about with you or for reference at home ?
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Glosbiker on 26 January, 2010, 07:17:15 pm
The Collins Bird Guide Second Edition - very, very good and pocket sized even though hardback
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Ray 6701 on 27 January, 2010, 10:32:41 am
Quote from: Charterhall on 26 January, 2010, 07:14:53 pm
Quote from: fungus on 26 January, 2010, 05:34:53 pm
Hello, could anyone recommend me a good british bird watching book.

Are you looking for one to carry about with you or for reference at home ?

One of each would be nice but a small one for carrying about is what I would get first.
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: pcolbeck on 27 January, 2010, 10:44:37 am
Quote from: Glosbiker on 26 January, 2010, 07:17:15 pm
The Collins Bird Guide Second Edition - very, very good and pocket sized even though hardback

Depends on how big your pockets are. It's quite a thick book even in paperback.
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Dinamo on 27 January, 2010, 03:53:17 pm
Quote from: Really Ancien on 26 January, 2010, 07:13:31 pm
I'd go for this one.

   The Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe Rob  Hume | WHSmith.co.uk
 (http://www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=9781845334352&shop=10004&type=Froogle)

Damon.

Thanks for recommendation.
Just ordered from Amazon £6.20
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Tourist Tony on 30 January, 2010, 03:06:23 pm
I have...a several of books. This one:
Amazon.co.uk:  (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ALars+Jonsson&field-author=Lars+Jonsson&page=1)
is a good one.
This one I would also suggest:
Birds of Britain and Europe (Collins Field Guide): Amazon.co.uk: Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort, P. A. D. Hollom: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Birds-Britain-Europe-Collins-Field/dp/0002199009/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264863527&sr=1-15)

I have reservations about the Svensson one largely because of what seems like perverse name changes. Divers, for example, are given the American name of "loon" and one of my favourite little birds, the fan-tailed warbler, gets the rather ugly name "zitting cisticola" because the Americans use that name for a bird of their own.
A bit like Julie "Mary Poppins" singing about spoonfuls of sugar to a Turdus migratorius (yes, really) as opposed to an Erithacus rubecula. When are we going to stop calling it a robin and start saying something like red-breasted chat?
Title: Re: Bird watching book
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 February, 2010, 05:20:07 pm
Maybe a bit late but I've got two copies of this, in different sizes:-

RSPB Birds of Britain and Europe: Amazon.co.uk: Rob Hume: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/RSPB-Birds-Britain-Europe-Hume/dp/0751312347)