Azores

[JTweedie]

I'm considering going to the Azores in September, mainly for whale watching, but I'd also like to do some bird-watching too. Can anyone recommend any guides to this part of the world?

Thanks.

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I think there have been a few articles in various bird magazines and journals, particularly in relation to the numbers of American vagrants that turn up there. In September I reckon you could pick up plenty of yanks, so definitely take an American field guide. I'm not sure that many of the European guides really cover the Azores very well, although I think the old Collins guide did (Heinzel, Fitter, Parslow).

[JTweedie]

Thanks for the reply. I've found it quite difficult to find general travel books to the Azores too, but I'll keep searching.

Can you recommend any good portable books on American birds?

[Andrew Whitehouse]

The two most popular ones are 'Sibley' (The North American Bird Guide) and the National Geographic Guide. There are three versions of Sibley - one covering the whole of North America and separate Eastern and Western guides, which have more text. The Eastern guide might be a good choice and it's quite cheap too:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/067945120X/qid=1082235453/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_0_1/202-2657448-2896642