must have books for Christmas

[nightshade]

could you please suggest a single book that would really assist in I.D-ing our british wildlife,flora or fauna
I have just paid an arm and leg for an out of print book:the hamlyn guide
bats of britain and europe (schober and grimmberger) from america.
an almost identical book, the bats of europe and n.america, same authors almost identical info.a quarter of the price
Anyway my suggestion is actually a chart;a guide to british bats, Kate Jones and Allyson Walsh at under £5

[nightshade]

no one around ,then I will suggest;collins bird guide,the most complete guide to the birds of britain and europe

[nightshade]

still no one around ,Bats phil richardson

[nightshade]

oh well, the bat detective,a cd and book to use with a bat detector,
(briggs and king) authors

[nightshade]

still no one about,the wildflower key(british isles-nw europe)Francis Rose

[Pete]

well I'll put in a recommendation for the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Peter Holden and Tim Cleeves. Concentrates on the commonest 280 British birds so unlike many guides it leaves out all those birds you are highly unlikely to see. Has lots of other info Habits, Concervation, Food, Habita, Breeding and Population.

[Fourwings]

How about -
Field guide to the Moths of Great Britain & Ireland - Waring, Townsend & Lewington
Britain's Dragonflies - Dave Smallshire & Andy Swash
Grasshoppers & allied insects of Great Britain & Ireland - Marshall & Haes

I can highly reccomend all three.

[nightshade]

just a couple of beginners books
the wildlife trusts handbook of garden wildlife;hammond and packham
creating your own back garden nature reserve ;chris packham

[nightshade]

mushrooms and other fungi of great britain and europe;roger philips

[Imaginos]

Just a few suggestions...

Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles (Macros)-Bernard Skinner. The standard moth book for most professionals.

British & Irish Pug Moths: A guide to their identification & Biology-Ade Riley & G. Prior. A good new book for this difficult group.

British Pyralid Moths-B. Goater. A very good book for these large Micromoths.

Insects of Britain & Europe-Michael Chinery. The Collins guide is a good general insect book.

Hoverflies-Alan Stubbs. Easily the most extensive hoverfly guide with colour plates & keys.