Bird Guides

[wizzo]

Does anyone know of a kind of 'loose card' type of wild bird guide. I have some good books, but just wondered if there was a guide of this type anywhere that would enable me to just take a page out for quick reference, instead of fiddling about trying to keep the book open at a particular page. Also, I'm looking for a comprehensive guide, or rather a list, of birds that migrate/immigrate and what ones to look for at any given time of year. Hope all of this makes sense?

[Picidae]

Collins Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe is probably the most comprehensive and reliable field guide. Available in paperback. Has distribution maps (but these are not definitive as the case with most guide books!). Also informs you of general movement.

If you want a 'definitive' list ie. what's on the British List that's here:

British Ornithologists Union: The British List Category A, B, C

Not sure where you'd get a 'loose' page bird guide - although once you're identifying/seeing/watching 70-100 species on a good birding day I'd imagine that would get rather cumbersome to refer too - although by then you may well not need a guide book at all - I never use one in the field now except if abroad!

If you really want to observe particular species for any length of time, then taking notes/sketches at the time is an excellent way of learning and a good practice to get into.

[david156]

Hi wizzo.

Can't help you with the guide card system that you descibed. As for the guide to migrant birds you would have to be careful and not take it as gossple. It would say that snow bunting is a winter visitor to us here in norfolk but a lot of people saw the breeding plumage bird on the coast in july! And how rare would you want the list to be? Would you include rare birds that only show a few times a year or just the general migarants?
I use the collins bird guide and birds of the western paleartic (Consise edition) aswell as the internet and have found this to be adequate so far.

[wizzo]

Thanks guys, great advice as usual. Right.....off to WH Smiths it is

[Madelinew]

I swear by Collins as well. As for cards, I can only suggest you check out childrens book suppliers. Dorling Kindersley (I think that's the right name) do such things as cards for astronomy purposes and they might be a source for what you're looking for. If you do find any, please let us know.

BTW, my Collins has been 'in the field' for a few years now and has survived all sorts of abuse including being left out in the rain - I should add that I have given it a plastic cover which probably helps. This is my one and works for me because I like working from photos rather than drawings

Birds of Britain & Europe (Collins Nature Guide): Amazon.co.uk: Jurgen Nicolai, Singer, K Wothe: Books

[Jason Claxton]

Originally Posted by david156

Hi wizzo.

Can't help you with the guide card system that you descibed. As for the guide to migrant birds you would have to be careful and not take it as gossple. It would say that snow bunting is a winter visitor to us here in norfolk but a lot of people saw the breeding plumage bird on the coast in july! And how rare would you want the list to be? Would you include rare birds that only show a few times a year or just the general migarants?
I use the collins bird guide and birds of the western paleartic (Consise edition) aswell as the internet and have found this to be adequate so far.

I use the Collins and the BWP concise edition as well ,I thought I better let you know Wizzo ,that the BWP concise is stlll big and is comprised of two volumes.There is also a large format edition of the Collins for reference use which helps you see those pictures a bit more easily.

[Madelinew]

Which bigger Collins Jason - there's a few and I need to know the right one to put on the Xmas list :-)

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Madeline,the "Collins" that I'm talking about is :-Collins Bird Guide The Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe by Lars Svensson and Peter.J.Grant .I cant find my large format at the mo but heres the ISBN's 0 00 219728 6 for the small Hb and the pb is 0 00 711332 3.I'll try and find my large format for you .Cheers Jason

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Madeline,I've found the large format.The ISBN for this is 0 00 710082 5.oh p.s these have illustrations not photos.

[Madelinew]

I did come across a large Collins with photos which reviewers were extolling the virtues of on Amazon so I might add that to the Xmas list. However, I might not because when I want that little bit of extra info, I usually head for the BTO website or to this forum

Might just put in a request for the equivalent value in chocolates on the list instead....