Birding tips #14 Field guides

I like my RSPB handbook, it covers more birds than the pocket guide, you get pictures of male, female, juvenile the bird in flight and seasonal plumage, so I find it brilliant for indentification, it doesn't bog you down with too much information on the birds neither, only what matters, which I find brilliant for a begginer not too much too sink in for the time being. But it is my first and the only bird book I own, so I'm not speaking from experience neither.

When I go out I carry the RSPB pocket birds of Britain and Europe.I find It Is just right for what I need at the moment as I am also a beginer outside the garden.Hope to go out on the Somerset levels in the next few weeks,as I live not far from there and I will take my book with me,just on the off chance of seeing a few different birds

Littleowl

Hi Seymour

i currently have the Mitchell Beazley pocket guide covers European birds as you mention along with the The Macmillan field guide to bird identification

Both books serve their purpose that one the Mitchell Beazley one is more detailed than the other.  The Macmillian gives you the basic details of birds, and their behaviour

I have the the Bird of Menorca by Enric Ramos and Aves Menorca as a Spanish bird book (GOB certified} - in Spanish until I get the English version while in Menorca this year of the same book {hopefully this year}

The last two mentioned I use for my Spanish trip to Menorca in May each year along {last 4 years} with a European book for cross referencing purposes.

There are others I posses, but they are used as reference books more or less

Regards

Kathy and Dave

seymouraves

 

FIELD GUIDES

We all use them at some point, some cover larger areas than others.

 For everyday use in Britain  and Europe the top of the range is undoubtedly the Collins Guide ( Svensson, Mullarney, Grant, Zetterstrom). Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe is magnificent with larger illustrations and an indespensible 20 page introductory section every birder should read :) . For portability and fewer species the RSPB pocket guide is handy. The Mitchell Beazley pocket guide covers European spp. as well but is still truly pocket sized. The Macmillan field guide to bird identification by Vinnicombe and Harris becomes a necessary purchase as you move from novice to experienced bird watcher.

:)

 

S

 

 

Both books serve their purpose that one the Mitchell Beazley one is more detailed than the other.  The Macmillian gives you the basic details of birds, and their behaviour

Hi,

I think you are confusing the MACMILLAN FIELD GUIDE TO BIRD IDENTIFICATION (Harris Tucker Vinicombe) with something else :)

It is an advanced Guide that covers difficult species groups such as divers, grebes, seaduck, leaf warblers,  buntings, etc

S

The Collins Nature Guides Birds of Britain and Eurpe ( Nicolai Sieger et al ) covers 310 Species and similar Volume Garden Birds I find are pocket portable and always carry 3 in my back pack  (Wild Flowers - Birds  - Butts) When placed in a waterproof sleeve these are excellent for durable field use . The volume despite its small size covers a large number of species (310 ) although it would be nice to have more than  one definitive image of each species , however larger books more suited to desk study no doubt cover species in full. Its a great memory jogger if you have read around your birds . Silhouettes , Dist Maps and individual descriptions Eg Food Calls Habitat are included

Best Wishes

Cornascrebe

http://www.ukwildlife.dsl.pipex.com/books/nature_books.htm

****In 2009 we deployed 52 kg of wild bird seed to help overwintering birds in local woodland*****

Hi- just boosted this for the new arrivals :)

S

I like the Mitchel Beazley to pop in my pocket but find the Collins better but heavier to carry round..The layout of the RSPB Handbook of British Birds is good in the fact that it has a page to each species even if the number of species is limited.

HI

 I use the Kingfisher field guide. Never failed yet in ID.

I prefer illustrated to photo  as photos vary so much.

A local bird ringer recommended to me.

    Ray

Hi Seymours

Great to see this thread on the go again

We have the Collins Bird Guide, 2nd edition now and we are happy with it - though I do not want to take it out on any trips due to the fact the book will end up dog-eared and bent.

So I still take out my small pocket guides (hard-backed) that I have here - must update them sometime to the 'recommended' mentioned ones here

Will investigate next time we visit a reserve

Regards

Kathy and Dave

seymouraves

 

FIELD GUIDES

We all use them at some point, some cover larger areas than others.

 For everyday use in Britain  and Europe the top of the range is undoubtedly the Collins Guide ( Svensson, Mullarney, Grant, Zetterstrom). Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe is magnificent with larger illustrations and an indespensible 20 page introductory section every birder should read :) . For portability and fewer species the RSPB pocket guide is handy. The Mitchell Beazley pocket guide covers European spp. as well but is still truly pocket sized. The Macmillan field guide to bird identification by Vinnicombe and Harris becomes a necessary purchase as you move from novice to experienced bird watcher.

:)

 

S

 

Copies of the excellent and hard to get Rare birds of Britain and Europe by Lewington Alstrom and Colston   have recently appeared on amazon-

Worth a look

 

S