Wanting to start bird spotting!

[purpleone]

Hi all,

Basically OH and I have always had an interest in birds but now we have moved to Norfolk and got a dog we have the chance to see a lot more! (compared to being at uni and living in Nottingham!)

What im after is a good book/guide - ive looked in my local bookshop but there was limited choice! I dont just want to buy one offline without recommendation..

Could anyone recommend a good birds of Britain book?

Ive seen lots of things that I cant identify and cant find online! So one that can help me identify as well? (incase you can help, it was in a marshy field with open water, black and white, bigger than a mallard but smaller than a goose with large rounded wings!)

Also (sorry to go on!) id like maybe one that was more of a 'field' book, we have a fairly good camera and have snapped some pictures while out and about and wouldnt mind somewhere to keep the really nice ones! (but no pictures of the illusive black and white flying thing!)

Thank you for your help.

[david156]

Hi,

Firstly welcome to WAB and welcome to Norfolk.

A good book to start of with is the Collins bird guide. It is called "The most complete field guide to the birds of britain and europe" and I keep a copy at home for referance along side a concise edition of the birds of the western paleartic. I also keep an older copy in the car for use when out and about.

Also being new to norfolk this local site guide book for norfolk might be of use; "best birdwatching sites in norfolk" by Neil Glenn. It gives directions and access points to various sites as well as an idea of what might been about and when.

As for the bird. Bigger than a mallard, smaller than a goose and in a field in norfolk and looks black and white when flying. Try shelduck or egyption goose. Both look black and white when flying... Just an idea


Cheers David

[Elean0r]

You'll never be satisfied with just one book.

We've got a fairly ancient one called "Book of British Birds", AA Readers Digest, which has pictures of the silhouettes, birds in flight and so on, which is very good. You might find one in a second hand shop - the well thumbed ones are the most useful, the pristine ones have always stayed on the bookshelf.

We've also got the two Collins guides, which are much more up to date and easier to carry.

I'd go for Shelduck, perhaps Pintail or even a Shoveler. If you know where you were when you saw it (the name of marsh) you could check online for up to date sightings in that area because local birdwatchers are bound to have a list.

[caernerch]

I agree shelduck. welcome to wild about britain. If your travelling light and don't want to be confused by lots of european species that are rare or absent from the UK try Mitchell & Beazley's British Birds- use the Collins one at home for sorting out any awkward species. A good rule when considering "rareties" is to ask yourself "why isn't it the common one?"
regards
caernerch

[elvisoneill]

Hello Purple One

I agree with Caernerch.

There is nothing worse when getting started than wading through a big
book full of birds that you aren't likely to see for a while.

The RSPB guides are as good as any I think



[u


I took this picture of a shelduck this afternoon

I hope it helps


Enjoy the forum!

[darrenm]

The Collins field guide is the best and has recently been updated but another fairly recent publication is the New Holland European Bird Guide by Barthel and Dougalis and can be bought for around £10 and i feel it is the best value out there for any new birder and it fits in the pocket of a coat or jacket.You can also get a copy in WHSMITHS or Waterstones or order from eithier or online.

It covers all the species of Britain and Europe with stunning hand painted plates and also Waders and raptors in flight to aid with further identification of these species. With each species it gives details of status, a distribution map and it's liklihood of being found in Britain and is in very easy to use format.

It also features indicator arrows which allow you to help remember features which are particular to that species and allow you to seperate it from others.
On the cover is a pair of Bullfinches and i really wish this pocket guide had been around 30 years ago when i first started out.

Try and avoid a lot of the cheap photographic identification guides out there and the photo's do not normally aid identification and can be of little use in the field.

A few quick tips which i was given when i started out which have stood the test of time is try to get to grips with all your common species in your area and that way you will know when you have found something different also dont be afraid to ask questions of other people or be put off if you get it wrong, everyone does at times and everyone continues to learn and no one can know everything.

[hatless]

As another beginner (I think I always will be) I think the RSPB guide is good. It has the maps that show distribution on the same page as the bird. With other books I've wasted time wondering if I was looking at such and such a bird, without realising that it's a rare summer visitor to Scotland, and not likely to be on a Midlands reservoir.

The RSPB also has lots of text, with useful information about the bird's habits, calls, migration and how numbers are doing. I find this adds detail to the bird and helps me remember it as a 'character' and not just a name on a list.

If you join the RSPB you can get it as a freebie!

[RoyW]

As you are new to birdwatching I would recommend the RSPB handbook of British birds by Holden & Cleeves. As well as being a fairly good beginners identification book, it also contains other interesting information about British species (such as the age of the oldest known ringed birds, at the time the book was first published).

The Collins bird guide by Svensson, Mullarney & Zetterstrom, is by far the best field guide covering the whole of Europe but because it covers so many species that are rarely (or never) found in Britain it can be very confusing for beginners.

[purpleone]

Hi all,
Thank you for the advice on books! Il have to go and have a look about and see which I can find..

Also my elusive black and white bird! I went back today and got a closer look (the ponds on private land and the closest I can get is about 100 yards but I got an ok picture...



I might have misjudged the size and believe it is an Oyster Catcher

[david156]

Originally Posted by purpleone

Also my elusive black and white bird! I went back today and got a closer look (the ponds on private land and the closest I can get is about 100 yards but I got an ok picture...



I might have misjudged the size and believe it is an Oyster Catcher

oops.

Well we've all made mistakes. My involved a mis-identified flying wigeon. long story for another day!!!

David