Britain's Birds 2nd Edition (1 Viewer)

Doctor Twitchings · May 11, 2020

Can anybody out there clarify when the 2nd edition of this excellent guide is due to be available? Recently Amazon stated May 22nd, but now states May 5th and out of stock! Wildsounds says it's due May 7th, and NHBS just states May 2020. I regard this as a significant publication and eagerly awaited, so would appreciate an update on this.

Andy Adcock · May 12, 2020

Orders are being taken so it's clearly imminent.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-l...0?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=1589281423&sr=8-3

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313078738004

Doctor Twitchings · May 12, 2020

Thanks Andy. I rang Wildsounds this afternoon and they have just received stock. They are taking orders now.

Nicola Main · May 12, 2020

NHBS are showing as in stock I just ordered my copy earlier this evening.

ClarkWGriswold · May 12, 2020

What are the updates. I agree it’s a great book. My youngest also has the “pocket” edition.

Rich

Nicola Main · May 12, 2020

Twelve new species and over 400 updated photos mostly. I have the 1st edition so will be interesting to compare them when it arrives.

https://www.nhbs.com/britains-birds...-58645685&mc_cid=448f8d139b&mc_eid=5e37af0b3c

ClarkWGriswold · May 12, 2020

Thanks Nicola.

Rich

John Cantelo · May 12, 2020

ClarkWGriswold said:
What are the updates. I agree it’s a great book. My youngest also has the “pocket” edition.

Rich

The available 'blurb' says that it has "Coverage of 12 new species recorded since the first edition plus revisions to reflect the latest taxonomy Coverage of all subspecies Improved identification aids, including more than 400 new photos, enhanced photo annotations and many redesigned plates". I didn't see any obvious changes after a quick look at the few plates available online other than the font colour on some plates seemed different seemed to have changed from blackish to blue. The page numbers and individual photos were the same so I'd imagine here's been no serious re-ordering of the plates and that the new plates may well be tucked away at the back.

I too have it on order so I hope it arrives soon. I admit rather than a second edition of the existing guide I was hoping for a new one albeit based on the original covering all European birds (even at the cost of omitting extreme rarities).

THE_FERN · May 12, 2020

John Cantelo said:
The available 'blurb' says that it has "Coverage of 12 new species recorded since the first edition plus revisions to reflect the latest taxonomy Coverage of all subspecies Improved identification aids, including more than 400 new photos, enhanced photo annotations and many redesigned plates". I didn't see any obvious changes after a quick look at the few plates available online other than the font colour on some plates seemed different seemed to have changed from blackish to blue. The page numbers and individual photos were the same so I'd imagine here's been no serious re-ordering of the plates and that the new plates may well be tucked away at the back.

I too have it on order so I hope it arrives soon. I admit rather than a second edition of the existing guide I was hoping for a new one albeit based on the original covering all European birds (even at the cost of omitting extreme rarities).

This title, presumably the old/current edition, is one of those available for free download from Project Muse as PDF

ClarkWGriswold · May 12, 2020

John Cantelo said:
The available 'blurb' says that it has "Coverage of 12 new species recorded since the first edition plus revisions to reflect the latest taxonomy Coverage of all subspecies Improved identification aids, including more than 400 new photos, enhanced photo annotations and many redesigned plates". I didn't see any obvious changes after a quick look at the few plates available online other than the font colour on some plates seemed different seemed to have changed from blackish to blue. The page numbers and individual photos were the same so I'd imagine here's been no serious re-ordering of the plates and that the new plates may well be tucked away at the back.

I too have it on order so I hope it arrives soon. I admit rather than a second edition of the existing guide I was hoping for a new one albeit based on the original covering all European birds (even at the cost of omitting extreme rarities).

Cheers John.

Rich

StevePreddy · May 19, 2020

If anybody receives a copy, an interesting test of how improved this second edition is would be to work through my comments on the gulls section (post #40 here: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3442580) and identify which ones have been addressed. Any volunteers?

John Cantelo · May 19, 2020

StevePreddy said:
If anybody receives a copy, an interesting test of how improved this second edition is would be to work through my comments on the gulls section (post #40 here: https://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=3442580) and identify which ones have been addressed. Any volunteers?

I'd have thought it would have been better for you to do it yourself. I've ordered it precisely with the intention of seeing whether and how far it's been revised/improved so I've no problems checking what has or has not been changed (although I don't think I'd be confident about saying whether any changes were necessarily for the better).

StevePreddy · May 20, 2020

John Cantelo said:
I'd have thought it would have been better for you to do it yourself. I've ordered it precisely with the intention of seeing whether and how far it's been revised/improved so I've no problems checking what has or has not been changed (although I don't think I'd be confident about saying whether any changes were necessarily for the better).

Thanks. I was going to hold off from buying it just yet as I wanted to see what you thought of it first 🙂

Steve Lister · May 20, 2020

It is reviewed as part of the RBA weekly newsletter - the reviewer seems well impressed. Special offer through RBA too.

Steve

Nicola Main · May 20, 2020

I have both and I have to say I am very impressed with the updated version! A lot of new photos, sections on rare groups are great and text has been improved too! It is definitely worth getting!

John Cantelo · May 20, 2020

Nicola Main said:
I have both and I have to say I am very impressed with the updated version! A lot of new photos, sections on rare groups are great and text has been improved too! It is definitely worth getting!

You've got a copy! I ordered mine ages ago and there's no sign of it as yet not even notification that it's on the way.

Essex Tern · May 20, 2020

I have both too. Yes a lot of tweaks throughout the book - according to the back more than 800 new photos, enhanced annotations and redesigned pages. A total of over 3500 photos now.

Nicola Main · May 20, 2020

John Cantelo said:
You've got a copy! I ordered mine ages ago and there's no sign of it as yet not even notification that it's on the way.

Where did you order from John? I got mine from NHBS a fantastic company for all nature related books and equipment!

Essex Tern · May 20, 2020

Nicola Main said:
Where did you order from John? I got mine from NHBS a fantastic company for all nature related books and equipment!

Same - corners a little bent on mine though, so could have been packed better, but good price so can’t have it all.

John Cantelo · May 21, 2020

Nicola Main said:
Where did you order from John? I got mine from NHBS a fantastic company for all nature related books and equipment!

I too ordered mine from from "a fantastic company for all nature related books and equipment" ..... yep, the very same NHBS!

Britain's Birds 2nd Edition (1 Viewer)

Active member

Worst person on Birdforum

Active member

Well-known member

Carpe Carpum

Well-known member

Carpe Carpum

Well-known member

Well-known member

Carpe Carpum

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.

Well-known member

Well-known member

🪶

Well-known member

🪶

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread