A Sparrowhawk's Lament: How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring: David Cobham (1 Viewer)

I posted a review on my blog.

IMHO It's a very entertaining read without being too scientific.

There are lots of anecdotes and observations about birds of prey with plenty of B&W drawings by Bruce Pearson.

I think it is available now.

http://anotherbirdblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-sparrowhawks-lament-book-review.html

Thanks - a great review of what looks a must-buy book. I hope my local Waterstones will stock it, otherwise I'll have a look at the Bird Fair

Phil Slade said:

I posted a review on my blog.

IMHO It's a very entertaining read without being too scientific.

There are lots of anecdotes and observations about birds of prey with plenty of B&W drawings by Bruce Pearson.

Click to expand...

Agree! I don't buy many contemporary bird books (and was somewhat disappointed with the last one I did buy...) but made an exception for this. I'd say anyone interested in British diurnal raptors really ought to read it, and those not 'of a certain age' will learn a great deal about conservation efforts from the mid-20thC onward, and about many of the cast of characters involved. In my mind this ranks as the third essential book on British raptors: Leslie Brown's old but still useful "British Birds of Prey" (New Nat.#60) and Dick Orton's "The Hawkwatcher" being the other two (not getting to single species works). Bruce Pearson's illustrations capture the jizz of each species wonderfully. Yes, a bit short on raptor biology, but great on history, politics and practicalities. But with all those names and personalities, why didn't the publisher include an index? (so simple to generate in these digital days).
Brian

I popped in to my local Waterstone's this week to have a look at this book, but they didn't have a copy - an assistant checked on the computer & told me that only three stores had one as the publisher - Princeton University Press - was too 'obscure'. Hope to see it at the Bird Fair unless the RSPB at Dungeness have a copy ...

Amazon.