Help Identifying birds

[EAC61]

Hi

New to the site, and hoping someone can help. We live very near to a Castle in Wales that has a moat around it with lots of ducks, geese and Swans. I am looking to purchase a book for my husband who regularly walks around the moat to help him identify the birds and wondered if anyone has any suggestions (also where I can buy it ??)

Many thanks

EAC

[Deb London]

Hi EAC,

Welcome to WAB.

The Collins Guide comes highly recommended by some:

Reviews - Bird Guide

Personally I usually buy books from Amazon.

Deb

[Wild-Woman]

Can I suggest :-

Peter Scott's Coloured Key to the Wildfowl of the World

ISBN-0-900806-35-4

As the birds you mentioned are mainly wildfowl, there may be a few there that are part of a collection, so not native to Britain. Peter's book would probably cover these too.

[EAC61]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Can I suggest :-

Peter Scott's Coloured Key to the Wildfowl of the World

ISBN-0-900806-35-4

As the birds you mentioned are mainly wildfowl, there may be a few there that are part of a collection, so not native to Britain. Peter's book would probably cover these too.

Thanks for that - I have managed to order a copy online .....

[Burko]

The RSPB online Identifier is a cracking tool.

The RSPB: Bird identifier

[artdemole]

I Spy is good for beginners of all ages.

[Dogghound]

Collins is the best for all round birding. I would of recomended this, a book on just wildfowl limits you to just these species.

[The_Doctor]

I'd agree Collins is the best one to go for. I haven't read it though but have had a quick flick-through and seems like an excellent book.

However I couldn't afford it so I went for a smaller, more pocket-sized book called Pocket Guide to the Bird of Britain and North-West Europe. Hasn't failed me so far since the start of the summer.
Good for beginners

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pocket-Brita...1069957&sr=8-2

[aeshna5]

Though I'd endorse the Collins guide as the best guide to European/Middle East birds, if the moat is full of exotic species of wildfowl the Peter Scott book may be a better bet for specifically identifying those birds, which seemed to be the birds of interest to the OP's hubby.

[EAC61]

Thanks for everyones responses. I have managed to order a second hand copy of Peter Scotts book, we also get lots of birds in our garden that we would luv to be able to identify so maybe I will splash out and buy a new copy of the Collins book !!