Bird ID and book

[Marsh hopper]

Hello,
firstly does anyone have recommendations for a pocket Bird ID book? I'm in bad need of a replacement for my 1960's Observer book of birds!!!
Here's a good reason for wanting a descent book. Two birds I saw today I cant identify from the drawings, but are probably not in it anyway. Firstly, a black and white bird (the black mostly on top, the white underneath) with a long down turned (curlew like) beak ........... but a much smaller bird.
The second bird, very goose like but with a short neck. An all black head and back with what looked like a grey body, white border to the very edge of the wings, and webbed feet.
I live on the North Kent marshes so would expect to see geese, waders and such, both of which were spotted from my windows.

[captaincarot]

i don't know so much about pocket, but you can't get a better book than the collins bird guide, for id ing british birds.

[aeshna5]

The Collins Bird Guide is an excellent book, though you may prefer a more basic book such as the RSPB guide.

I think your goose was probably a Dark-bellied Brent Goose which is quite a compact goose + present in your part of the world at this time of year.

Still picking my brain over the other bird.

[captaincarot]

have a look at pictures of curlew sandpiper, for the black and white small curlew, they're actually grey and white and the bill isn't as long as a curlew, but there's an outside chance the light could have made the back seem darker,

brent goose is probably good for the other one as previously stated

[diggleken]

Suggestion - it maybe Oystercatcher with muddy beak from probing?
Although not curlew like, the beak is quite long - otherwise its close?
Collins, defo.
Cheers
Ken

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Marsh hopper

Hello,
firstly does anyone have recommendations for a pocket Bird ID book?

If you want a pocket guide, then Collins do a Pocket Guide which will probably suit your purposes:

Here:
Collins Pocket Guide - Birds of Britain and Europe: Amazon.co.uk: Herman Heinzel, Richard Fitter: Books

Firstly, a black and white bird (the black mostly on top, the white underneath) with a long down turned (curlew like) beak ........... but a much smaller bird.

This sounds like an Oystercatcher - the orange bills are not always visible from a distance (or if covered in mud!)

look at these: Iris

The second bird, very goose like but with a short neck. An all black head and back with what looked like a grey body, white border to the very edge of the wings, and webbed feet.

Could be a Brent Goose - again white collar not always visible
look at these: Iris

[Marsh hopper]

Thanks for the book suggestions, I'll look them up. As for my two birds, I've looked at the photo's of the Brent Goose and Oystercatcher and I can definitely state that what I saw were neither of these. I know the Oystercatcher as I've seen these before in the estuaries here. And the goose I saw was black all the way down it's back and with black wings (i saw it at rest).

[actionfinch]

i use them 'gem birds' the quick and easy spotters guide, with collins being the publisher its 8.5 cm x11.5cm its a good little book with nice photos of the birds.

[solus]

Turnstone?
Tufted Duck?

[Marsh hopper]

No, definitely not a Turnstone and Tufted Duck. I've just spent ages looking through the bird pics on this site and, well. An earlier posting mentioned the Curlew Sandpiper, that looks a good possibility. As for the other one, can't find anything that comes close. When I first saw it it looked like a large pigeon, but black. Once I got my bins on it I could see it looked more goose like, but without the long neck. I don't know, afraid I don't know enough, it could be a normal winter visitor or a rare one. I've been looking up the book suggestions too, the little 'Gem Birds' book looks a good one and fits the bill for what I want, so thank you.