Animal identification book advice.

[david156]

Hi.

I'm looking for a identification guide book to tracks and signs for mammals and other wildlife of britain including faeces identification. I'm not concerned as to the size or weight of the book as it would be used at home for identification from notes and photos. Price isn't a problem either. I would rather have the best guide available rather than the best value.
Any help would be great,

cheers David

[Dogghound]

A good one is Animal tracks and signs by Preden Bang and Preban Dahlstrom

ISBN 978-0-19-929997-3

[Jennie]

The one I have is Hamlyn Guide's "Animals - Tracks, Trails and Signs", written by RW Brown, MJ Lawrence and J Pope. This includes animals, birds and a few reptiles of Britain and Europe.

There are sections on tracks, trails, grooming and marking signs, feeding signs, homes and nurseries, mammal droppings, and a good skull ID guide for animals and birds.

ISBN 978-0-7537-0955-9

[rogpow]

I've got both the above mentioned books, and find them equally useful.
Neither's very expensive (about £12/15).

[mammalrecorder]

Both the books mentioned are good David. The FSC also does a good mammal tracks leaflet and Rob Strachan's Mammal detective is a fun starter book. For birds Tracks & Signs published by Helm is the best.

But really it is very hard to get it all out of a book or books. If you have the time why don't you go on one of the excellent courses that are around. The B.T.O. hold courses at their own offices (and I see you are in Norfolk) and sometimes at FSC sites for birds. The Mammal Society have various courses at FSC sites and some Branches run them locally. I run a number of courses for the Mammal Society local branches in Scotland so no use to you but there may be an active Mammal Society Branch with a qualified trainer near you. Worth enquiring maybe.

Hope this helps.