Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest Books
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Nepal
Book SynopsisA Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Nepal is an introductory photographic identification guide to 280 bird species commonly seen in Nepal. High-quality photographs from some of India's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation and opportunities for naturalists. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Nepal encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name as well as its vernacular name, its status in each state as well as its global IUCN status.
£11.69
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd An Identification Guide to Birds of Britain and
Book SynopsisAn entry-level photographic introduction to birds and birdwatching, featuring 150 of the commoner bird species most likely to be seen in the fields and gardens of Britain and Northern Europe. The user-friendly introduction covers geography, climate, taxonomy and nomenclature, habitats, bird identification, and the best places to watch birds.
£9.49
Graffeg Limited Skomer - Portrait of a Welsh Island
Book SynopsisIn this fully illustrated, compact volume, Jane Matthews takes us on a journey around this world-renowned bird paradise off the Pembrokeshire coast.
£10.79
Saraband Kingfisher
Book Synopsis"An utter delight" - Jennifer Tetlow. In the Encounters in the Wild series, renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and personal with British wildlife - here, the kingfisher. With his inimitable passion and vision, Jim relives memorable encounters with some of our best-loved native species, offering intimate insights into their extraordinary lives.Trade ReviewPraise for Jim Crumley: "An utter delight. I cried more than once for the sheer beauty of the writing and descriptions of watching wildlife." - Jennifer Tetlow; "The most gifted writer where nature writing and mountain writing meet" - Jim Perrin for The Great Outdoors; "The best nature writer working in Britain today." - The Los Angeles Times; "Enthralling and often strident." - The Observer; "Tinglingly readable ... Crumley's distinctive voice carries you with him on his dawn forays and sunset vigils." - Sir John Lister-Kaye, The Herald; "Nature writing with passion, honesty, even poetry" - Scottish Review of Books; "Virtuoso writing" - BBC Countryfile.
£9.50
Merlin Unwin Books Living with Greys
Book SynopsisThis stunning large format photographic book is the first to showcase throughout the course of a year, that iconic game bird, the rare grey partridge.
£40.00
Saraband Skylarks with Rosie: A Somerset Spring
Book SynopsisMarch 2020: Stephen Moss's Somerset garden is awash with birdsong: chiffchaffs, wrens, robins and a new arrival, the blackcap, all competing to sing as the season gathers pace. Overhead, buzzards soar and ravens tumble, apparently as delighted as he is to herald the new season...But this Spring Equinox is unlike any other. As the nation stumbles toward a collective lockdown, Stephen begins to observe and record the wildlife in his immediate vicinity, with his fox-red Labrador, Rosie, as his companion on his daily exercise. As old routines fall away, and blue skies are no longer crisscrossed by contrails, they discover the bumblebees, butterflies and birdsong on their patch. This evocative account underlines how an unprecedented crisis has changed the way we relate to the natural world, giving us hope for the future at perhaps the darkest time in our lives. And it puts down a marker for the 'new normal': the many species around us, all enjoying, for once, a land less lived in than usual by humankind.Trade Review"A beautiful memoir of life and wildlife from one of the UK's finest nature writers." Chris Packham; "The uncoiling of a marvellous spring ... a well-written and enjoyable book." Mark Avery; "Excellent ... Exalting skylark song and orange-tip butterflies at a time of so much human suffering is a delicate balancing act ... It is a delight to share the company of such an upbeat wildlife guide." Ben Hoare, BBC Countryfile; “A great read.” John Miles, Birdwatching magazine; Praise for previous work: "An absorbing account . . . very heartening". Anna Pavord, Sunday Times; "In simple, lucid prose Moss maps out how ornithology has evolved from a specialist interest for a tiny minority." Mark Cocker; "Energetic and uplifting." Jonathan Drummond, Times Literary Supplement; "Moss seeks out Britain's hidden corners where wildlife survives against the odds." National Geographic Traveller;"Moss ... is a good storyteller, seamlessly linking biological fact with the anecdotal." Patrick Galbraith, The Times; "An enchanting book... elegiac." Express, Peter Burton; "An affectionate, enterprising book." Sunday Times; "Stephen Moss unlocks a trove of folk history . . . Not a page goes by without at least one diverting fact." The Times; "Entertaining and exciting . . . Moss takes us on a series of wonderful diversions into bird etymology, tracing the tracks of avian meaning." Philip Hoare, New Statesman; "The book really comes alive when Moss heads out into the field to see the birds . . . Beautifully described." Spectator; "An absorbing account . . . very heartening". Anna Pavord, Sunday Times; "The glass is one hundredth full rather than 99 hundredths empty ... [a] hopeful stance supported by delightful observations." Caspar Henderson, Spectator; "In simple, lucid prose Moss maps out how ornithology has evolved from a specialist interest for a tiny minority." Mark Cocker; "Energetic and uplifting." Jonathan Drummond, Times Literary Supplement; "An intriguing natural history story." BBC Wildlife; "Moss seeks out Britain's hidden corners where wildlife survives against the odds." National Geographic Traveller; "Moss explores some very unlikely oases for hard-pressed wildlife in the UK." New Scientist; A wildlife rich tour of the in-between habitats of the British Isles. Simple Things; "Moss ... is a good storyteller, seamlessly linking biological fact with the anecdotal." Patrick Galbraith, The Times; "An enchanting book... elegiac." Express, Peter Burton; "An affectionate, enterprising book." Sunday Times; "Stephen Moss unlocks a trove of folk history . . . Not a page goes by without at least one diverting fact." The Times; "Entertaining and exciting . . . Moss takes us on a series of wonderful diversions into bird etymology, tracing the tracks of avian meaning." Philip Hoare, New Statesman; "The book really comes alive when Moss heads out into the field to see the birds . . . Beautifully described." Spectator; "From stone-age remains to modern day skyscrapers, Stephen Moss takes us on an exhilarating journey through place and time, providing a fascinating insight into nature's relationship with environments created by man." Mya-Rose Craig, Birdgirl; "Moss's bible of hidden places to spy wildlife is a welcome addition to our shelves. From London's city jungle to UK rail corridors, he shows us that rare finds can just be a happy accident in our own back garden." Wanderlust
£11.69
Arachne Press Birds Knit My Ribs Together
Book Synopsiswhat if / I actually - am - a bird / my cupped hands / opening to release me... Phil Barnett's relationship with birds is so close that his poetry blurs the distinctions between himself and the birds - a kind of ornimorphology where rather than giving the birds human characteristics, the reverse happens, and he imagines himself as a bird. Phil Barnett is a photographer, writer, musician, artist and naturalist, who has a passion for the birds that kept him company through a long hard illness. His photography and poetry have quite a following on social media, which is where we found him, on The Daily Haiku. His skill as a photographer leads to an acute visual sensibility, and his slow recovery moves from a tick sheet his mother had to fill in for him, to extraordinary poetry - full of wit and wonder and spectacular language.Trade ReviewThese poems are windows onto moments of a life steeped in nature. At once perceptive and full of wonder, they captivate with a uniqueness and vibrancy, just as the sudden surprise of birds can startle us from our myopic existence. Jane LovellTable of ContentsBirds Knit my Ribs Together Introduction The pond Dream Thrush Wounds Three Curses To know what it's like Box of letting go Jackdaws to roost Bird watching We give what we can Just sitting Under wings Trepanning unchorused A crack must have opened Plugged by a bird unsprung Butcher bird Terrible curve Nor Woodcock rising Two white horses Floating cork of me Molten roe So close Amber under The news Spans two hills Its own angle The nature dog Coastal footpath Used to be Flux Set the air Stones Open A willow's words When I was water
£9.49
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd New Zealand's Biggest Year
Book SynopsisNew Zealand's Biggest Year is an epic birding tale of how two friends become rivals and set out to break the all-time record for the most Aotearoa New Zealand bird species seen in one calendar year. Their rivalry results in more birds being spotted in a single year than ever before and two national records are broken. However, which of these two birders will take the title and become the all-time biggest year lister Aotearoa New Zealand has ever seen? From the first day at the top of South Island to the sprint finish on the Chatham Islands, this is Harry Boorman's personal account of his epic, year-long adventure. Full of twists and turns, unexpected sightings, pandemics and trip cancellations, including the addition of a species (the Emus) to the official bird list on the very last day, Harry's story gradually unfolds to its nail-biting conclusion.
£16.99
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd The 100 Best Birdwatching Sites in Australia
Book SynopsisThe 100 Best Birdwatching Sites in Australia contains the author's personal selection of 100 of the best birdwatching sites in all states, territories and islands of Australia. The sites are chosen for the large number of species or the large number of special birds to be found in each one. In some cases, the sites are quite specific, such as Hasties Swamp, some are huge (Lakefield National Park), some are lengthy (the Strzelecki Track) and some cover a whole district, such as Katherine. Access details of sites have been updated where relevant for the 3rd edition. Sue Taylor's engaging narrative describes the efforts she goes to in search of particular species. For each site she covers the type of habitat, which special species may be found there and when is the best time to visit. She lists four birds to look out for. Photographs show the site and two of the species that inhabit it whether as residents or as seasonal visitors.
£16.99
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and Their Zulu Names
Book SynopsisAccompanied by superb photographs, this ground-breaking book is the first practical field guide to record the Zulu names of bird species commonly found in KwaZulu-Natal. Where one name was previously used to describe a number of birds belonging to the same genus (i.e. ukhozi for most eagles), the need existed to give species specific names. The authors hope this book will be used to inspire a greater interest, awareness and protection of the avifaunal heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. It is vital for the heritage of all South Africans that these names are recorded and made widely available. Noleen Turner, a passionate birder and honorary research professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in collaboration with Prof Adrian Koopman and Roger Porter, led this seven-year project, together with 18 expert Zulu bird guides from various parts of KwaZulu-Natal. The recording, derivation and crafting of these names has been a lengthy but fascinating process. Turner notes that the project has included not only the consideration of biodiversity management, but also the pursuit of social ecology, the long neglected but crucial 'people's' aspect of conservation. She said when it came to Zulu names for birds, they had to fill in the gaps, and of the 550 species analysed, some were confirmation of well-known names, such as inkazwi for the fish eagle; some were selected from the most commonly known names such as inkankane for the hadeda ibis. Some names were redirected: for example, the name for the Brown-headed Kingfisher indwazela became the generic name for all kingfishers (ndwaza referring to the motionless position while waiting for prey). Other new names were coined based on appearance, calls, behaviour and distribution such as isankawu (the bird whose call sounds like a vervet monkey) for the Southern Pochard, or umacutha derived from the Zulu word cutha (meaning to draw the body tense) as the generic name for herons, which perfectly describes the bird's behaviour before it lunges at its prey.Trade Review"An outstanding and exceptionally useful book" - Mark Anderson, - CEO BirdLife South Africa
£18.95
Juggernaut Publication The Living Air: The Pleasures of Birds and
Book SynopsisThe Living Air is the first book released by Juggernaut and Indian Pitta, Indiaâs first dedicated book imprint for bird lovers, policy makers, and conservationists.
£16.12
LYNX EDICIONS Birds of Cambodia
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£49.12
The largest avian radiation the evolution of
Book SynopsisEsta obra presenta la nueva y extraordinaria historia de cómo las aves paseriformes se diversificaron y dispersaron por todo el mundo. También describe la nueva clasificación que refleja su historia filogenética. La nueva filogenia revela que muchos de los linajes evolutivos más antiguos comprenden solo unas pocas especies que permanecieron en su área de origen o sufrieron una dispersión limitada. Solo un pequeño número de grupos experimentó una proliferación significativa de nuevas especies y, de hecho, solo cinco (de 145) familias de paseriformes están representadas en todos los continentes (excepto la Antártida). Sin embargo, la variación global de la riqueza de especies generalmente está relacionada con los cambios en la productividad en los distintos hábitats. Una tasa de evolución global de nuevas especies aparentemente constante parece posible debido a la rápida proliferación en nuevos nichos ecológicos y en archipiélagos, y una acumulación extraordinaria de especies endémicas e
£76.50
European breeding bird atlas 2 distribution
Book SynopsisPoder determinar de forma adecuada la ubicación de las aves en este mundo cambiante es de vital importancia para su conservación y, hacerlo además a escala continental, precisa de una gran voluntad de cooperación internacional. Para lograrlo, el European Bird Census Council (EBCC) se organiza a través de una red de expertos ornitólogos cuyo objetivo es impulsar el trabajo del atlas de aves por toda Europa.El primer Atlas de las aves reproductoras de Europa (EBBA1) fue publicado en 1997 y representó un hito en la historia de la ornitología europea. El segundo Atlas de las aves reproductoras de Europa (EBBA2) se ha llevado a cabo de forma coordinada en 48 países a través de la red de organizaciones asociadas al EBCC. En el trabajo de campo han participado unos 120.000 colaboradores, mayoritariamente voluntarios y como consecuencia, este atlas constituye uno de los mayores proyectos de ciencia ciudadana sobre biodiversidad realizados hasta la fecha. La recopilación y el análisis de datos ha seguido un riguroso protocolo científico, y ha sido dirigido por un equipo de investigadores desde institutos ornitológicos con muchos años de experiencia en la elaboración de atlas.El enorme esfuerzo de trabajo de campo realizado ha logrado una cobertura geográfica sin precedentes en un atlas de biodiversidad en Europa, cubriendo todas las áreas hasta llegar a los Montes Urales y el Mar Caspio, zonas que no estaban bien cubiertas en el EBBA1. Estos datos han sido recopilados principalmente durante el periodo 2013-2017.La obra presenta información de todas las especies reproductoras durante el período de estudio, así como de algunas otras con un estatus reproductor incierto. Un total de 556 especies se tratan de forma completa, con textos, mapas y una ilustración; otras 69 especies muy raras o irregulares se presentan en un apéndice. Las fichas completas de especie incluyen mapas de 50×50 km (mostrando generalmente datos de abundancia), modelos de distribución de 10×10 km (de 222 aves reproductoras) y mapas de cambio en la distribución respecto al primer atlas.Las ilustraciones originales de cada ficha completa de especie están dibujadas por 46 artistas de 18 países, donde se pueden apreciar diferentes estilos y técnicas, reflejo de la diversidad europea.Esta obra es la fuente de información más actualizada sobre la distribución y cambio de las aves en Europa, proporcionando una sólida base de conocimiento con el objetivo de contribuir a comprender la biodiversidad y garantizar su conservación.
£77.89
Birds of the mesozoic
Book SynopsisEsta completa y actualizada guía de campo ilustrada, obra del paleontólogo Juan Benito y el paleoartista Roc Olivé, tiene como objetivo ilustrar con un detalle sin precedentes la asombrosa diversidad de avialanos (aves modernas y sus parientes fósiles más cercanos) que vivieron desde el origen del grupo hasta la extinción masiva que acabó con el reinado de los dinosaurios no aviares hace 66 millones de años: las Aves del Mesozoico.
£27.55
Alada Books, S.L. Seabirds Count. A census of breeding seabirds in
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£42.74
Alada Books, S.L. Birds That Leave Their Mark. Tracks and Signs of
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£31.49
Portfolio 1 Photographs and stories of
Book SynopsisThis is the first book produced by Rafael Armada and has been shaped by over three decades of keen observation and photography of birds, offering a glimpse into a seldom-told natural world, a visual journey to some places on Earth you may never have heard of before. Through Armada?s lens, you will traverse the farthest reaches of the globe, from the lush Colombian rainforests to the unforgiving icy landscapes of Antarctica, navigating the subantarctic waters of New Zealand and exploring remote archipelagos in the Atlantic and Pacific. This volume spans over 150 pages, divided into three thematic chapters, and its generous dimensions and use of high-quality materials enhance the reader?s visual experience.In Portfolio 1, Armada presents an impressive collection of pictures, showcasing multiple award-winning photographs recognized for their uniqueness and demonstration of expertise. However, this compilation goes beyond merely showcasing stunning images. Some of the birds depicted her
£33.16
Alada Books, S.L. Birds of New Guinea
Book Synopsis
£53.20
Alada Books, S.L. Handbook of the Birds of the World: v. 2: New
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£141.51
Ebury Publishing Owls
Book SynopsisIn this beautiful follow-up to Our Garden Birds, Our Songbirds and Our Woodland Birds, street artist Matt Sewell captures the world's most evocative bird: the owl. In his much-loved pop-art watercolours and accompanied with his whimsical descriptions, Matt Sewell expresses the individual characters of owls as never before. From tiny Elf Owls to huge Eagle Owls, from the mysterious creatures of the night to an impossibly fluffy baby owl, they are undoubtedly one of the world's most intriguing feathered friends. These wise, magical birds are otherworldly in their striking colours and stature, and it''s not just birdwatchers who are obsessed. With 50 hand-selected, hand-painted owls, this is a delightful gift which appeals to owl lovers, bird-watching enthusiasts, children, adults and art and design fans alike.
£12.74
Orion Publishing Co Waiting for the Albino Dunnock
Book Synopsis''A beautiful book'' Tim Birkhead, author of Bird Sense''The prose is sublime, and so is the intelligence behind it'' Bel Mooney, Daily MailThe extraordinary world of birds has the power to change lives, as it did the author''s. The pleasure and fascination of bird-watching, together with the silence and stillness involved, can play a part in changing the way that we live our lives - and can help us when we have to deal with adversity.Personal and elegiac, Waiting for the Albino Dunnock shows us how beauty is central to our emotional wellbeing, and reminds us of the careless damage we are inflicting on the natural world. This glorious pilgrimage into the soaring world of birds opens our eyes afresh to the beauty which surrounds us.Trade ReviewA beautiful book -- Tim Birkhead, author of BIRD SENSEGlorious, beautifully written pilgrimage into the soaring world of birds ... The prose is sublime, and so is the intelligence behind it -- Bel Mooney * DAILY MAIL *Rare, charming and unforgettable ... Her prose has the clarity, poise, precision and transcendent beauty of someone who was brought up reading the classics and knows the joy of finding the right words. Every sentence is perfect -- Richard Davenport-Hines * THE OLDIE *Beautifully written * CHOICE magazine *[Richardson] writes...with a poetic lyricism -- Eithne Farry * SUNDAY EXPRESS *This exquisite depiction of bird-watching as personal pilgrimage is written with passion, poetry and thefreshness of a newcomer: 'the real voyage of discovery consists in...seeing with new eyes' * THE LADY *Richardson is both a looker and a see-er and her open-eyed delight in the beauty around her has an infectious quality enhanced by exquisite writing -- Sara Maitland * BBC COUNTRYFILE *[Richardson's] lyrical memoir of a year of birdwatching in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Greece is a life-enhancing record of birds (and books). * DAILY MAIL *
£8.49
The Natural History Museum Birds
Book SynopsisThe complete story of the development of bird art in a new miniature format, with an outstanding selection of images from the Museum's world-famous archive
£13.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Moult and Ageing of European Passerines
Book SynopsisA brand-new, completely revised second edition of Jenni and Winkler''s classic guide, updated and improved for the next generation of ringers and professional ornithologists.Lukas Jenni and Raffael Winkler have studied moult across a wide range of bird species for decades, and in this book bring their observations together to produce a valuable reference for both professional ornithologists and bird ringers. This second edition has been completely updated and revised, with 16 new species accounts added, bringing the total covered to 74.The first part of the book provides an up-to-date summary of the moult strategies and moult sequences of European passerines, and discusses the ecological consequences of moult. Throughout the book, the authors draw on the enormous amount of data on moult that they have collected over 40 years of study and which, combined with data from the literature, allow them to present a thorough synthesis of the subject.The second Table of ContentsPreface Part I Chapter One - The function and consequences of moult Chapter Two - Terminology and methods in moult research Chapter Three - The moult of adults Chapter Four - The moult during the first year of life Part II Chapter Five - Ageing European passerines Chapter Six - Species accounts Appendix: The use of skull pneumatization for ageing References Scientific names with their English, German, French, Italian and Spanish translations Index Quick reference key
£76.00
Lerner Publishing Group On the Hunt with Owls
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£8.54
Whittles Publishing A Natural History of Lighthouses
Book SynopsisThis is the story of lightkeepers’ contributions to the natural history of lighthouses in conjunction with the history and maintenance of the manned navigation beacons – their primary function of course – ‘for the safety of all’. Since keepers were first engaged to maintain lighthouses around our coast they have encountered wildlife, and in some cases developed a keen interest and expertise on the subject. Towards the end of the nineteenth century keepers were encouraged to submit annual returns of bird movements enabling reports on bird migration and several authoritative books to be compiled. As a result, ornithologists began to recognise how many lighthouses were well-placed to establish bird observatories – a few were in redundant lighthouses, often on offshore islands. However, lightkeepers also recognised that in certain weather conditions and during migration times, flocks of birds were attracted to the beam, resulting in many fatalities. While the problem is now better understood and considerably reduced, the automation of all British lighthouses has resulted in there no longer being lighthouse keepers to monitor the situation and report bird, sea mammal, insect and bat movements. The Natural History of Lighthouses highlights the contribution made by lighthouse keepers over the last century or two to the study of natural history, and ornithology in particular. Much of this is discussed in the words of the keepers themselves, set in the context of lighthouse history. Scotland has an especially rich lighthouse tradition, mainly due to a dynasty of Stevenson engineers covering over a century, all of whom also had a profound understanding of weather and geology – and indeed natural history – so important in the placing of their lighthouses. Several redundant lighthouse buildings still function as bird observatories as well as wildlife viewpoints and study centres, museums, hotels, restaurants and private homes. The lanterns themselves are still maintained in this digital and satellite age, monitored remotely from a strategic control centre.Trade Review'...a collection of great stories about the life of the keepers, as well as references to the work of lightships and their crew. ...there are plenty of marvellous stories here. This well-produced book also contains some terrific photography.' Nautilus Telgraph
£22.46
Whittet Books Ltd The Barn Owl: Guardian of the Countryside
Book SynopsisThis is certainly not the only book to be published on barn owls, but it is the first to go beyond describing this, our most treasured bird, and to examine how our changing environment is affecting its future. It is illustrated with colour photographs throughout, and the text is supported by maps, charts, and tables.
£20.00
Princeton University Press Birds of Botswana
Book SynopsisHere is the ultimate field guide to Botswana's stunningly diverse birdlife. Covering all 597 species recorded to date, Birds of Botswana features more than 1,200 superb color illustrations, detailed species accounts, seasonality and breeding bars, and a color distribution map for each species. Drawing on the latest regional and national data, the bTrade Review"[An] excellent guide... With the publication of this field guide, Botswana is likely to become a more popular birding destination for travelers."--Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "This is the first-ever field guide to birds of this south African country. Part of the Princeton Field Guides, it is excellent, with 255 well-executed color plates of all 597 Botswana species... A very valuable resource for all academic audiences concerned with Africa's wildlife."--Choice "This book is definitely an excellent addition to the ornithological literature of southern Africa."--Holger Kolberg, Lanioturdus "The book will be a welcome addition to any keen southern African birder's library."--Peter Ryan, African Birdlife "Attractive, readable ... this field guide will prove indispensable for birdwatchers traveling in Botswana."--Jonathan F. Husband, ARBATable of ContentsForeword 7 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 9 Botswana at a glance 9 Biogeographic context 10 Vegetation and habitat types 11 Overview of Botswana's birds 17 Where to see birds in Botswana 17 How to use this book 20 BirdLife Botswana 22 Glossary 23 Bird Topography 26 Species Accounts 28-383 Struthionidae 28 Numididae 28 Phasianidae 30 Turnicidae 34 Anatidae36 Podicipedidae 46 Phoenicopteridae 48 Ciconiidae 50 Scopidae 54 Threskiornithidae 56 Ardeidae 58 Pelecanidae 70 Phalacrocoracidae 72 Anhingidae 74 Heliornithidae 74 Sagittariidae 76 Pandionidae 76 Accipitridae 78 Falconidae 112 Otididae 120 Gruidae 124 Sarothruridae 126 Rallidae 126 Burhinidae 134 Recurvirostridae 134 Charadriidae 136 Rostratulidae 142 Jacanidae 144 Scolopacidae 146 Glareolidae 158 Stercorariidae 164 Laridae 164 Pteroclidae 170 Columbidae 172 Musophagidae178 Cuculidae 180 Strigidae 190 Tytonidae 196 Caprimulgidae 198 Apodidae 202 Trogonidae 206 Coliidae 208 Coraciidae 210 Alcedinidae 212 Meropidae 218 Upupidae 222 Phoeniculidae 222 Bucerotidae 224 Bucorvidae 226 Lybiidae 228 Indicatoridae 230 Picidae 232 Psittacidae 236 Platysteiridae 238 Prionopidae 240 Eurylaimidae 240 Malaconotidae 242 Dicruridae 248 Campephagidae 248 Monarchidae 250 Laniidae 250 Oriolidae 254 Pittidae 256 Corvidae 256 Stenostiridae 258 Paridae 258 Remizidae 260 Nicatoridae 260 Alaudidae 262 Pycnonotidae 272 Hirundinidae 274 Macrosphenidae 282 Phylloscopidae 282 Acrocephalidae 284 Locustellidae 290 Cisticolidae 290 Leiothrichidae 302 Sylviidae 306 Zosteropidae 308 Certhiidae 308 Sturnidae 310 Buphagidae 316 Turdidae 318 Muscicapidae 320 Nectariniidae 334 Passeridae 338 Ploceidae 344 Estrildidae 356 Viduidae 364 Motacillidae 370 Fringillidae 378 Emberizidae 382 Appendix of Additional Species 384 References 385 Species Index 386 About the Author & Illustrator 398
£999.99
Princeton University Press Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of
Book SynopsisAn illustrated field guide that enables you to easily identify the tracks and signs left by a wide variety of mammal and bird species found in Britain and Europe, covering behaviors ranging from hunting, foraging, and feeding to courtship, breeding, and nesting. It includes informative descriptions of mammal species along with distribution maps.Trade Review"If anyone has a particular interest in learning how to track animals they should buy this book. If on the other hand they are someone who likes to understand the countryside and delve below the surface more than a little, this book will help them to do just that in a handy-sized, nonscientific, and highly readable guide."--Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog "[B]y far the best book on the subject I've ever seen ... beautifully illustrated."--Dick Warner, Irish Examiner "[Focuses] on helping you identify the signs species leave behind, and these are especially useful for tough-to-tell-apart, cryptic, or nocturnal species."--Kate Jones, New Scientist "[C]oncise and punchy ... [Olsen] manages to pack an awful lot into these pages, and the result is as thorough a survey of European tracks and signs as you could wish for in a book that's still small and light enough for you to consider taking out into the field... [The book makes] lavish use of colour photos, and there's a pleasingly equal weight given to different species, and to the different aspects of the subject being dealt with."--Matt Merritt, Birdwatching Magazine "I cannot praise Tracks and Signs highly enough. It is not only the finest guide to tracking I've ever held in my hands, it is one of the most attractive and informative books on natural history I've ever seen. This guide will prove invaluable to those who already take an interest in tracking and wish to gain more experience. It is also an important tool to promote the field art of tracking in Europe, a region where tracking as a zoological method can use all the support it can get. I also wish to emphasize that this is not only a book for European (and British) naturalists. I definitely recommend it to naturalists in North America and East Asia as well. Yes, it is that good."--Jochen Roeder, 10,000 Birds "[T]his is a lovely book to dip into and learn something new each time. It may not work as a conventional 'in the field guide' but will be invaluable to identify tracks and signs from photographs at home. The drawings and photographs are excellent throughout and the text is clear and concise. I would recommend this book to anyone with an active interest in nature."--Mike King, Gloster Birder "[A] great field guide to take out with you on country walks, as well as to use for study at home... [A] very attractive book with detailed information and wonderful photography. The layout is clear and easy to follow and there's a wealth of information in there."--Kate Bradbury, English Garden "A lavishly illustrated book, packed with colour photographs... [T]his book is the start of many possible wildlife adventures and really gets the adrenalin flowing!"--Biggest Twitch "[A]n excellent book which has rekindled my interest in tracking down more mammals and looking more carefully for the signs of birds. This book is certainly highly recommended... [T]his book will be on the packing list for all our tours in future."--Biggest Twitch "[I]t's a fascinating, high-quality, good value and very informative book that I'd happily recommend to anyone with an interest in the subject, and I'm looking forward to test-driving it in the North Yorkshire forests this winter."--Mark James Pearson, Birding Frontiers "Brown et al. will doubtless already be known to many as a reliable guide to the tracks and signs of birds. Those wishing to extend their knowledge of the subject to include mammals should certainly examine a copy of Olsen."--M.G.W., IBIS "This excellent guide should enable the observer to easily identify the tracks and signs left by a wide variety of our native birds and mammals. I must emphasize the high quality of the outstanding colour photographs."--Bryan Sage, Country-Side "For me one of the great strengths of this book is that reading it--even just browsing through it--has heighten my awareness of what is around me. I always kept an eye out for tracks and signs--but since spending a bit of time with this book I find myself noticing much more--and referring back to it often when I've discovered something new to narrow down the options."--Calvin Jones, Ireland's Wildlife "This is a very well-produced, abundantly illustrated guide to the tracks and signs of 175 species of European mammals and birds, bound in a field-friendly, flexible cover... [T]here is much to enjoy here, from the new illustrations to the excellent photographs. A useful addition to the literature on tracks and signs, which adds to the previously available guides."--Curious Naturalist "[I]f you are looking for something comprehensive for Britain and Europe, this is the book for you... Although advertised as a field guide, this book would be a good addition to a library as a reference book on all tracks and signs."--Helen Ashton, Reference ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface 5 Mammal tracks 6 Antlers 18 Bird tracks 22 Scat 35 Carnivores 35 Carnivore scat 36 Scat of smaller mammals 38 Scat of larger rodents 8 Scat of larger herbivores 40 Bird droppings 43 Feeding signs on trees 46 Fray marks on trees 57 Holes in trees, ant heaps, etc 59 Gnawed branches 62 Feeding signs on mushrooms 64 Feeding signs on turnips 65 Feeding signs on spruce cones 66 Feeding signs on pine cones 68 Feeding signs on hazelnuts 68 Feeding signs on walnuts 71 Feeding signs on rose hips 72 Feeding signs on cherry stones 73 Feeding signs on apples 74 Nests and dens 76 Pellets 82 Owl pellets 82 Raptor pellets 84 Gull, cormorant, heron, and stork pellets 85 Wader, crow, and jay pellets 87 Skulls in pellets 89 Other skulls and bones 91 Round nests 92 Feathers 96 Raptor feeding signs 100 Trails 104 Brown Bear 106 Wolverine 109 Wolf and domestic dog 111 Lynx 115 Iberian Lynx 117 Wildcat 118 Arctic Fox 120 Red Fox 122 Raccoon Dog 127 Raccoon 130 Eurasian Badger 132 European Beaver 136 North American Beaver 142 Coypu 143 Muskrat 144 Northern Water Vole 147 Southern Water Vole 151 Water Shrew 151 Otter 154 American Mink 157 European Mink 160 Western Polecat 161 Pine Marten 163 Beech Marten 165 Stoat 167 Weasel 169 Brown Hare 171 Mountain Hare 174 Rabbit 176 Red Squirrel 179 Grey Squirrel 183 Flying Squirrel 184 Alpine Marmot 185 European Souslik 187 Black Rat 188 Brown Rat 189 House Mouse 192 Yellow-necked Mouse 195 Wood Mouse 199 Striped Field Mouse 200 Harvest Mouse 202 Northern Birch Mouse 204 Common Dormouse 205 Garden Dormouse 207 Edible Dormouse 209 Bank Vole 211 Field Vole 213 Common Vole 215 Norway Lemming 216 Wood Lemming 218 Grey-sided Vole 219 Root Vole 220 Common Mole 221 Western Hedgehog 223 Algerian Hedgehog 226 Common Shrew 226 Bats 229 Horses 231 Cattle 232 Wild Boar 233 Elk 237 Red Deer 241 White-tailed Deer 246 Fallow Deer 247 Sika Deer 250 Reeve's Muntjac 251 Roe Deer 253 Reindeer 258 Musk Ox 261 Mouflon 263 Chamois 265 Domestic sheep 266 Goats 267 Seals 268 Sea turtles 269 Photo credits 270 Index of species 271
£16.19
Princeton University Press New Guinea
Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book sets the pulse racing about a world that really must be seen if at all possible. I knew about birds of paradise but this book has rekindled a passion for this so wonderful and bonkers family of birds, just take a look at the photographs here!" * Biggest Twitch Birdwatching Trips *"There is not another book on the market to come anywhere near this publication. Sit back and be drawn into such a landscape you can only dream of while at home."---John Miles, Birdwatching"[A] beautifully crafted book."---Peter Menkhorst, Australian Book Review"[A] masterpiece."---Joan Mead-Matsui, Everything, Everywhere, Travel Writer"[A] beautiful and authoritative overview . . . . [If] you share a passion for wild and poorly known places then this book represents an introduction to one such treasure trove."---Guy Kirwan, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club
£22.50
Princeton University Press Far from Land
Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of the British Trust for Ornithology's Best Bird Books of 2018""A brilliant global overview of seabird behaviour."---Kenny Taylor, BBC Wildlife"His tour of the ecological highlights is gripping in scope and in granular detail gleaned from observations of puffins, penguins, fulmars and more."---Barbara Kiser, Nature"This is a celebration of nature writing, scientific research and the wonder of birds, large and small, that glide, flap and flutter across the world’s oceans."---Tim Birkhead, Times Literary Supplement"Brooke’s storytelling skills are first rate, and artist Bruce Pearson’s illustrations only further the mesmerizing quality of this project." * Foreword Reviews *"[Brooke] shares his encyclopedic knowledge with dry wit and fine attention to detail in this absorbing book. . . . His enthusiasm is so infectious that Far from Land is bound to hatch some much-needed new devotees."---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist"If you thought you knew all about seabirds, then think again. This book is absolutely packed with new information."---John Miles, Bird Watching Magazine"Written with passion and knowledge in equal doses. It is beautifully written, immediately captures interest, is erudite, avoids jargon, and is entertaining with a fair peppering of humour. . . . I cannot think of one good reason why any seabirder – field birders and researchers alike – would want to skip this book. Buy it."---Bob Flood, Birdwatch Magazine"[A] marvellous new study."---John Burnside, New Statesman"A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating survey of the world of seabirds – made all the more enjoyable by Bruce Pearson’s lovely pen-and-wash illustrations."---Nigel Andrew, Literary Review"The most up-to-date picture of how seabirds behave when we aren’t watching. . . . Beautifully written."---Joe Culley, Irish Times"In a very approachable and often dazzling book, Michael Brooke blends the seemingly incompatible worlds of romance and science. The book almost reads like a collection of fairy tales, stories from lands far away of almost-mythical creatures."---Mihai Andrei, ZME Science"As an all-encompassing look at the lives of all sort of seabirds, this book would be hard to beat . . . a must-have book for anyone with an interest in the most mysterious of all birds."---Matt Merritt, Bird Watching Magazine"Michael Brooke has drawn on his knowledge of current science to give a timely summary of research so far and a brilliant global overview of seabird behaviour."---Kenny Taylor, BBC Wildlife Magazine"To read it is like encountering a new and unknown blue planet for the first time. . . . How much better to live now when the world of seabirds, even far from land, is chronicled in such magnificent detail by scientists such as Brooke."---Matt Ridley, The Times"A magical tour of every ocean and some of the remotest locations on the planet through the lives of seabirds. . . . The potential for future discoveries as technologies advance is truly exciting and I cannot wait for the sequel to this book in 20 years’ time."---Ruth Walker, British Trust for Ornithology"Michael Brooke’s book, Far From Land, provides an entertaining and highly digestible account of what we have learnt from the past three decades of seabird tracking research, and what we have learnt is nothing short of staggering. . . . It is well written, tripping along at a nice pace, and should keep anyone with an interest in marine biology or ornithology entertained."---Stephen Votier, Current Biology Magazine"An impressive global overview of impressive modern research into what proves to be even more impressive seabirds. . . . Altogether a well-written, finely illustrated, instructively mapped book."---Richard Sherley, Seabird"This is a relatively slim volume, but one that is absolutely packed with information and all conveyed in an engaging and often witty style."---Andrew Bielinski, Scottish Birds"The book is written with wit (e.g., quoting from a scientific presentation given in rap) and real insight, helped bythe fact that the author himself is a field ornithologist and understands how much time and effort goes into workthat may end up summarized in a sentence in the book. This is a book that all ornithologists should read, but itwill also inspire marine biologists, seafarers, and all who travel the seas into deepened respect for the seabirdswith which they share the oceans."---Michael Scott, Conservation Biology
£16.19
Princeton University Press Birds of Belize
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A typical good modern birding field guide with distribution maps, concise text including helpful identification notes, and illustrations all on the same page. This all makes it a very easy field guide to use."---Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours"[Birds of Belize] is a first rate guide, user-friendly and very portable. If a trip to Belize is in your future, don't leave home without it!"---David M. Gascoigne, Travels With Birds"This book is a MUST have for anyone birding Belize!"---Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report
£27.00
Princeton University Press Field Guide to North American Flycatchers
Book SynopsisTrade Review"An American Birding Association Best Bird Book of the Year""An incredibly handy tool. . . . As an eBird reviewer I already know that I’ll be pulling this book off the shelf on a regular basis during migration."---Blaine Carnes, Association of Field Ornithologists"[Field Guide to North American Flycatchers] is exactly the sort of detailed guide to empids and pewees that I’ve been hoping for since…well, basically since I started birding. Simply put, every North American birder should have this."---Grant McCreary, The Birder's Library"A book well worth owning for both its excellence of content and uniqueness. . . . [It is] light and portable, and, with minimal technical language, geared to birders of every level."---Donna Lynn Schulman, 10,000 Birds"This book is amazing, this book is fantastic. It offers so much insight into the world of flycatchers. . . . It offers a lot on how to challenge our perception of things, how to look at things in a different way. . . . The artwork is awesome, the details are awesome."---Byron Murray, To Know the Land"A MUST have for anyone birding North America!"---Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report"A unique and excellent field guide, and one very well worth having if you are interested in trying to improve your identification skills when it relates to the often-challenging identification of these commonly encountered flycatcher species. . . . . Cin-Ty Lee and Andrew Birch should be congratulated on producing such a well-designed, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated guide that will surely aid many users, beginners and experts alike."---Frank Lambert, Frank Lambert Birding"The illustrations are magnificent. . . . I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to everyone who has ever or will ever struggle with flycatcher identification – it is a great addition to the specialized books out there."---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature"Holding your hand through the entire process, the guide makes it possible to identify almost any empid and pewee that might cross your path"---David Callahan, Birdwatch Magazine"An important step forward in the available identification material for this group of species. . . . Even experienced birders from within the ranges of these species will likely learn from this book"---Ben Lucking, British Birds"Empidonax flycatchers . . . have needed a book like this for a long time, and I'm just really glad that when it does finally come along that it is done as well as it is."---Nate Swick, American Birding Association
£15.29
Island Press The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban
Book SynopsisHow does a bird experience a city? A backyard? A park? As the world has become more urban, noisier from increased traffic, and brighter from streetlights and office buildings, it has also become more dangerous for countless species of birds. Warblers become disoriented by nighttime lights and collide with buildings. Ground-feeding sparrows fall prey to feral cats. Hawks and other birds-of-prey are sickened by rat poison. These name just a few of the myriad hazards. How do our cities need to change in order to reduce the threats, often created unintentionally, that have resulted in nearly three billion birds lost in North America alone since the 1970s? In The Bird-Friendly City, Timothy Beatley, a longtime advocate for intertwining the built and natural environments, takes readers on a global tour of cities that are reinventing the status quo with birds in mind. Efforts span a fascinating breadth of approaches: public education, urban planning and design, habitat restoration, architecture, art, civil disobedience, and more. Beatley shares empowering examples, including: advocates for "catios," enclosed outdoor spaces that allow cats to enjoy backyards without being able to catch birds; a public relations campaign for vultures; and innovations in building design that balance aesthetics with preventing bird strikes. Through these changes and the others Beatley describes, it is possible to make our urban environments more welcoming to many bird species. Readers will come away motivated to implement and advocate for bird-friendly changes, with inspiring examples to draw from. Whether birds are migrating and need a temporary shelter or are taking up permanent residence in a backyard, when the environment is safer for birds, humans are happier as well.Table of ContentsPreface: Design of The Bird-Friendly City Chapter 1: The Benefits of Birds in a World Shaped by Humans Chapter 2: Birds in a Changing World of Cities Chapter 3: Protecting the Birds around Us: How Cities like Portland Are Nurturing Unlikely Alliances of Bird and Cat Lovers Chapter 4: Returning Home: Inspiring Work from London to Pittsburgh to Make Space for Migrating Birds Chapter 5: Replacing Habitats Lost: the Story of the Burrowing Owls of Phoenix and Efforts at Urban Relocation Chapter 6: Vertical Bird City: Singapore, Hornbills, and Beyond Chapter 7: Bird Appreciation Chapter 8: Design for Safe Passage: Cities Like San Francisco Lead the Way with Bird-Safe Buildings Chapter 9: Birds in Ravine City: Toronto’s Pioneering Work to Build Awareness and Design a Habitat City Chapter 10: Black Cockatoo Rising: The Struggle To Save Birds and Bush From a Proposed Highway Chapter 11: Birdicity: What Makes for a Deeply Bird-Friendly City and How Do We Measure It? Chapter 12: Cultivating a Bird-Caring Citizenry Bibliography
£24.70
Bodleian Library Birds Journal
Book Synopsis‘High from the earth I heard a bird’ - Emily Dickinson Eric Fitch Daglish (1892-1966) was a wood engraver, writer and illustrator. His book 'Woodcuts of British Birds' was published in 1925. Daglish learnt the art of wood engraving from Paul Nash and became known for his illustrations of the natural world. He illustrated an edition of Gilbert White’s 'Natural History of Selborne' and he both wrote and illustrated several books on natural history, including 'Birds of the British Isles', 1948. Beautifully produced in hardback with lined paper and ribbon marker, this makes a perfect gift for bird watchers and nature lovers.
£12.94
LYNX EDICIONS Chikara O Birds of Japan
Book Synopsis
£46.18
SINAGOTE INGLES
Book Synopsis"This book tells the story of a spoonbill we have called Sinagote, a female bird born on the island of Vlieland, in the Netherlands. In her name, she carries the words ?Sina?, the Breton name of the village in Britanny she returns to every autumn, and ?gote? which means ?girl from?. This story is about more spoonbills than just Sinagote. It?s even about much more than spoonbills and the connections between them. It?s also about the connections between countries in Europe and Africa, between the people who live and work there, who have an affection for spoonbills and work for their well-being. Part love story, part success story, Sinagote, The Biography of a Spoonbill describes the importance of looking beyond our national borders in the protection of migratory birds."--Back cover.
£23.75
Pelagic Publishing Where to Watch Birds in Portugal, the Azores &
Book SynopsisA guide to birdwatching sites in Portugal and offshore islands: this book shows you where to go and when to visit for the best birding experience. This guide is best used alongside your field guide - it does not include information about identifying birds. Portuguese territory goes well beyond Portugal itself; it also comprises the Atlantic archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. Considered in this light, it is a highly diverse area in ornithological terms, holding endemic bird taxa, large populations of seabirds, most of the rarest and sought-after species of southern Europe and many exciting Nearctic vagrants. Add to these prospects the natural hospitality of the Portuguese people, the mild climate, the modern infrastructure plus the excellent food and wine and it is easy to see why the country is one of the most attractive destinations in Europe for the birdwatcher. This book is a reprint (without changes) of the Prion Birdwatchers’ Guide to Portugal, the Azores & Madeira Archipelagos (2nd Edition, 2014, ISBN: 9781871104134). It is a key reference for anyone - from beginner to ornithologist - planning to visit the area with an interest in its birds. This is a site guide, not an identification guide.Table of ContentsIntroduction Brief notes on Portuguese ornithology Pre-tour information Travel information Staying in Portugal Weather and Clothing Health and medical facilities Maps Geography and vegetation When to go Introduction to site information MAINLAND PORTUGAL - North - Centre - Lisbon region - Alentejo - Algrave AZORES - Eastern group - Central group - Western group MADEIRA Selective bird list Full bird list Amphibians and reptiles list Mammals list Recommended reading Useful contacts and websites
£24.98
Seabirds the new identification guide
Book SynopsisEsta es la primera guía completa de las 434 especies de aves marinas del mundo, tras la publicación de la guía de Harrison en 1983: Seabirds: An Identification Guide. Cubre todas las aves marinas conocidas, empezando con los patos marinos y somormujos y acabando con los cormoranes y pelícanos. Espléndidamente ilustrada y detallada, a lo largo de sus 600 páginas proporciona un tratamiento completo de todas las especies de aves marinas conocidas, incluidas las especies recientemente redescubiertas y raramente vistas.
£67.50
Mereo Books Pigeon Racing: My Personal Insights
Book SynopsisJim Emerton is one of the most respected figuresin pigeon racing, having bred and raced birds for40 years and had birds return to the loft from asfar as 879 miles away. Now he writes on the subject for magazines and websites, sharing hisexpertise and his musings with all who enjoy thisabsorbing hobby. This comprehensive collection ofhis writings on pigeons covers everything from feed regimes and choosing stock to his experiences with racing from many exotic locations around the world. "We are a motley crew of mad monks, illuminated by a shared dream... It is an extension of the old, traditional values, of the old sage, pipe in mouth, corn tin in hand, sunning himself in a deckchair in his rose garden. That is how the iconic birds in folklore and history were raced."
£11.25
Whittles Publishing Days with the Golden Eagle
Book SynopsisA reprint of the classic eagle book from one of the pioneers of nature writing. Seton Gordon was among the first to observe in some detail - through countless hours in his hide - the daily life of the golden eagle and to present in his books an account of their habitat, diet and behaviour. But his writing was much more than that - his books are interwoven with acute observation and his narrative possesses a clarity that ensures the reader sees as much as Seton Gordon himself saw. From life day to day on the eyrie through the different Scottish landscapes and the interaction of the eagles with other wildlife, it is all covered and in his inimitable style.
£18.04
New Holland Publishers Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds
Book SynopsisThe most updated bird ID book on the market. Beginners and experienced birdwatchers turn to this guide to identify the birds they see in their backyards and on bushwalking or birdwatching expeditions. Designed to slip easily into a pocket, back- pack or glove box. This is a new and updated version of the very popular Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds and includes 64 new or extensively revised colour plates, incorporating all the new birds observed in Australia, including Tasmania and islands and territories since 1986. Also included is a re-organisation of the guide into broad habitats - seabirds, shore birds, inland water birds and bush birds; updated common and scientific names, revised maps, and a new visual index to aid beginners in finding the most appropriate pages in the guide. A must for serious naturalists in Australia, be they beginners or experts.
£26.99
Waterford Press Ltd Spain Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar
Book Synopsis
£8.21
Alada Books, S.L. Birds of New Guinea
Book Synopsis
£49.50
HarperCollins Publishers Raptor
Book SynopsisWinner of The Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Award for Non-Fiction in 2011 and the Authors'' Foundation Roger Deakin Award in 2011A stunning debut in the tradition of Robert Macfarlane and Helen MacdonaldOf all the birds of the British Isles, the raptor reigns supreme, sparking the imagination like no other. In this magnificent hymn to these beautiful animals, James Macdonald Lockhart explores all fifteen breeding birds of prey on these shores from the hen harrier swimming over the land in the dregs of a May gale on Orkney, to the ghostly sparrowhawk displaying in the fields around his home in Warwickshire. This is a book that will change how we think of our own skies.Trade Review‘Lockhart's prose is so intimate, urgent, and visceral as to make his darkly resonant ruminations almost unfailingly gripping’ Independent ‘A hymn in praise of living, soaring, terrifying grandeur … his exquisite, poetic language is a sensuous delight without sacrificing scientific accuracy … A tour de force’ Daily Mail ‘Lockhart puts the rapture back in the raptor. Raptor rips at its words, turning them into exquisite portraits of the utter wild, shaping soaring, obsessive beauty out of the British landscape and its imperial birds. A true heir to J.A. Baker's The Peregrine, and T.H. White's The Goshawk' Philip Hoare ‘In Lockhart’s soaring debut he laces vivid prose with illuminating facts … He elegantly depicts these creatures of the sky and, in doing so, celebrates the natural richness of the country over which they fly’ Financial Times ‘If you publish a book on birds of prey in the tumultuous wake of Helen MacDonald’s prizewinning H is for Hawk, you expect comparisons. James MacDonald Lockhart can relax. His book is outstanding … Wild birds of prey represent the living spirit of a place- of Britain. In this delicate, complex, open-ended book, full of freshness and movement, he captures that wild spirit without ever making it feel captive’ Sunday Times ‘Lockhart brings out both the birds’ ecstatic gifts of flight but also the tragedy and triumph of their predatory lifestyle… His descriptions are as precise as they are inventive’ Observer ‘Lockhart is stepping towards the distinguished company of the great modern literary books on birds of prey… The writing, at times, is as good as anything we have on the subject to date’ Country Life ‘His understanding of raptor ethology shines’ Nature ‘Any bird of prey fan will find it irresistible … thoroughly recommended’ BirdGuides ‘Nothing prepared me for the sustained brilliance and intensity of this book … Warm, intimate, full of wonder and delight in the ways the birds revealed themselves’ Caught by the River
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Returning Light
Book SynopsisOn Skellig Michael, thousands of birds appear and disappear, erecting towers, coming together in wings of movement which build and unravel over the empty sea. Often, no one else is there to stand beside me on the island. The mind wanders; links with the past are easily made; ancient ways of viewing things come alive.'In 1987 Robert Harris happened upon an unusual job advert in The Kerryman a new warden service was being set up on Skellig Michael, and the deadline was imminent. Just weeks later he was on his way to set up camp in one of Ireland's most remote locations, unaware that he would be making that same journey every May for the next 30 years.Here he transports us to the otherworldly island, a place that is teeming with natural life, including curious puffins that like to visit his hut. From the precipice he has observed a coastline that is relatively unchanged for the last thousand years a beacon of equilibrium in an ever-changing world.But the island can be fierce too. Inhabitable only for five months of the year, solitude can quickly become isolation as bad weather rolls in to create a veil between Skellig Michael and the rest of the world, when the dizzying terrain can become a very real threat to life.Returning Light is an extraordinary memoir about the profound effect a place can have on us, and how a remote location can bring with it a great sense of belonging.Trade Review‘A beautiful, meditative book’ – Ryan Tubridy ‘A heartfelt, profound memoir’ – Belfast Telegraph
£999.99
Ebury Publishing Our Songbirds
Book SynopsisIn this beautiful follow-up to 2012''s hit, Our Garden Birds, street artist Matt Sewell offers more watercolours and quirky descriptions of British songbirds.In Matt''s world, the peewit sings the blues, and the bittern fills his neck ''like a tweed pair of bellows''. Distinctive and enchanting, with a songbird for each week of the year, this delightful gift book will appeal to birders, children and adults, and art and design fans alike.
£10.80
Vintage Publishing Birders
Book SynopsisSince 1972 Mark Cocker has been a member of a community of obsessional people, almost all male, who sacrifice most of their spare time, a good deal of money, sometimes their chances of a partner or family, even occasionally their lives, to watch birds. Birders is the story of this community, of its characters, its rules, its equipment and its adventures - many of which are hilariously funny, Birders is also a work of love - the story of what birds can do to the human heart.Trade ReviewAt last! An up to date examination of what makes birders tick. And about time too! Wonderfully written * Bill Oddie *A natural history version of Fever Pitch... Reading it may even make you want to try out this strangely addictive past time for yourself * Guardian *Intensely readable, very funny and highly enlightening * New Scientist *With a mixture of well-chosen anecdotes and self-deprecating humour, Cocker succeeds in making event he most hardened cynic appreciate his passion. Birders is a stylish work in a long tradition of fine writing on the subject * Guardian *The best account yet of the "tribe" and its wonderful, unworldly passions * The Times *
£14.39
