Pocket Guide to UK Birds (1 Viewer)

[dave6991]

What is the latest most up to date, pocket edition Gude of UK birds please.


Dave

 

[John Cantelo]

It depends what you want from the guide. if you want a guide largely to help you identify birds seen in Britain (without the confusion of too many non-British species) I'd go for Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe by Chris Kightley, Steve Madge and Dave Nurney. It has large clear illustrations and a thumbnail sketch of status. However it's a decade or so out-of-date and still has 20 odd 'alien' species never seen in the UK and as many again that are extremely rare here. The RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Peter Holden and Tim Cleeves isn't as good for ID and covers only 280 species. However, the latest edition appeared in 2010, it has good UK maps and details of food. breeding, habits, etc.

 

[dave6991]

cheers john, any thoughts on the Collins Bird Guide?

I still have my observers book of british birds, a bit tatty now!

Dave

 

[chris butterworth]

The Collins is excellent but - it covers Europe as far east as the Urals, the Caucasus, Asia Minor,the Levant and North Africa. This means a lot of the species in it are either rare, very rare or unknown in the UK. Good if you're going on holiday to the continent though.

Chris

 

[MJB]

The Collins is excellent but - it covers Europe as far east as the Urals, the Caucasus, Asia Minor,the Levant and North Africa. This means a lot of the species in it are either rare, very rare or unknown in the UK. Good if you're going on holiday to the continent though. Chris

You'll need proper pockets, though...:-O
MJB

 

[robmv]

"The Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe" by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume is genuinely pocket-sized but still packs in a lot of information. The Amazon page has a "look inside" option so you can see if it's the kind of thing you're after.

 

[eddy the eagle]

Dave,you are showing your age when you refer to the observers book.My first bird book back in the early 1950's.....Eddy

 

[chris butterworth]

You'll need proper pockets, though...:-O
MJB

Aldi fishing vest. They've got a back pocket big enough for the 'Birds of Columbia' and your butties. :t:

Chris

Still got my 'Observers Book of Birds' as well.

c

 

[MJB]

Aldi fishing vest. They've got a back pocket big enough for the 'Birds of Columbia' and your butties. :t:

Chris

Still got my 'Observers Book of Birds' as well.

c

Chris,
How do you know? You've never seen my butties!:-O
MJB

 

[Matt Slaymaker]

The Collins is excellent but - it covers Europe as far east as the Urals, the Caucasus, Asia Minor,the Levant and North Africa. This means a lot of the species in it are either rare, very rare or unknown in the UK. Good if you're going on holiday to the continent though.

Chris

Agree, from a UK point of view maybe see what this one will be like ...

http://www.nhbs.com/collins_british_bird_guide_tefno_180703.html

 

[eddy the eagle]

Dave,I have an appology to make,I have just looked on Amazon and found that they published the Observers book up until 2003.I thought they went out in the late 50's,I am sorry if I have "aged" you...Eddy.

 

[dave6991]

That is news to me also, mine is from the 1960's


Dave

 

[John Cantelo]

Dave, I assumed from your posting that you wanted something without all the confusing additional species the Collins guide brings, but if you can cope with this then there's none better. A stripped down version of the book for the UK featuring far fewer species (not quite sure how many) is promised in 2014, but I guess that's too long to wait. Failing this have a look in second hand bookshops for the Shell Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland (Sharrock, Willis & Ferguson-Lees - 1988). Despite its antiquity and rather ghostly, faded plates this remains, in my view, by far the best UK orientated field guide ever written. It's a pity that the aforementioned Collins book doesn't use its structure and layout as a blue print. A updated version with better printing would be very welcome, but in the meantime the original is still surprisingly useful.

 

[dave6991]

John,
something UK specific, and that I can carry in my pocket/Bag , lightweight

Dave

 

[delia todd]

Hi Dave

I think this one could suit Birdwatchers Pocket Guide. My guide of choice if going for a walk.

It really does fit into a pocket.

 

[dave6991]

John,

Its available on amazon

Dave