British Birds: A photographic guide to every common species (Collins Complete Guide)

Product Information

The definitive guide - not just to the birds of Britain, but also to those of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Stunning illustrations and the most comprehensive text. Not for the beginner, but will appeal to the real enthusiast or anyone travelling farther afield.

If you prefer photographic guides, this is the best on the market. All our regular resident and visiting birds are included, with a fine selection of photographs and a comprehensive text. The RSPB Handbook only covers bird species seen in Britain, which is definitely a plus for someone just getting into birding; the Collins can seem a bit overwhelming!A new lay-flat binding has also been used, creating easier access to the species accounts at home or in the field. The information on each species isn’t quite as thorough as that in the RSPB Handbook, but the identification tips are extremely good. That, combined with the high quality of the photos, means Britain’s Birds will prove highly useful both in the field and at home as you study in readiness for your next birding adventure. Thompson writes novels that combine elements of fable, mystery fiction, fairytale and the uncanny. In The Falconer, a young woman takes a secretarial position in a remote Scottish manor house in the 1930s, determined to find out what happened to her predecessor, her late sister. It’s the dreamlike quality of this novel that places it just ahead of Barry Hines’s A Kestrel for a Knave among my favourite fictions about falconers. As a child, my favourite Ladybird books were Garden Birds, Heath and Woodland Birds and Birds of Prey. The author’s illustrations imprinted themselves on my mind so that when I look at them now I have to make an effort to separate feelings of nostalgia from the impulse to formulate a critical or aesthetic response. There’s something charmingly idealised about the way different species all get along as they stand about on the lawn or perch in a bush, and there’s an extraordinary, almost occult power in the way Leigh-Pemberton renders the quality of twilight. Look at him, putting his own book in. Always thought he was the type. Except I’m not. When I edited the anthology Murmurations, I included a new story, Gulls, by Nicholas Royle. Professor of English at the University of Sussex (I teach at Manchester Metropolitan University) and author of numerous works of nonfiction, Royle had published his first novel, Quilt, the year before. Gulls reappears in this, his second.

My older sister owned this and the Observer’s Book of Birds. I loved both and still do. I find myself drawn to things that are the same, but different. Birds and eggs, for instance; but there’s a greater degree of difference between birds than between their eggs. The eggs of the buzzard and the sandwich tern are much more alike than the buzzard and the sandwich tern. It’s largely a question of scale.Being able to identify the birds visiting your garden will help you know what bird food to put out, where to put it and if they need anything extra depending on the time of year. List of Common British Birds With Pictures & Facts: 25 Species That You Need To Know! For Children & Adults. Because the Helm Guide features only ‘confusion’ species, it’s not an ideal book for the beginner. However, for someone who wants to take their bird identification to the next level, it’s the ideal reference book. The RSPB guide is a similar size to the Collins, yet covers only British species, meaning that there is more space for information on each species. As well as identification tips, you’ll also find facts on population, nesting season, brood size, and lifespan; all useful for building up a picture of a bird’s lifestyle. Those minor criticisms aside, if you want a truly comprehensive bird book that covers British and European species, then the Collins should be top of your shopping list!

An initial vote from each of the judges determined the shortlist. The final vote took place in mid December, with the usual lively discussion and debate between the judges before they cast their votes to determine the winning title. Primarily a guide to how to attract birds to your garden, but includes a section on identifying garden birds, with 50 different species illustrated and described. I can't recommend the author enough! Read BTO's review of Gulls of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East: an identification guide by Fionnuala McCully The bestselling RSPB Handbook of British Birds is the most comprehensive reference for birdwatchers of all levels of interest and experience. Now in its fifth edition, it remains the most accessible field guide to more than 300 bird species likely to be encountered in Britain and Ireland.If you prefer illustrations to photos, and want a bird guide that covers only British species, then the RSPB Handbook of British Birds would be an excellent choice.