Wildlife Books

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Evening Everyone,

Being fairly new ot this site and the broader side of wildlife I was wondering what peoples favourite wildlife books are. I come from a mainly birding background and as a result own only birding books.

I am looking to expand my collection on general wildlife as I am getting more into flowers, moths and other insects. Can anyone recommend books which they think I should get hold of if possible.

I buy and sell books generally for a bit of pocket money, but have never got into wildlife books so I know nothing about value etc.

Any help much appriciated.

Jacob

[honedan]

HI,

As an ecological consultant good text books are vital the one's we use the most are F. Rose to british wild flowering plants, Stace and reders digest guide to british wild flowers and their guide to trees both have great drawings and are easy to use.


honedan

[nightshade]

The Bats of Europe and North America.Do not be put off by the title European/British Bats are well catered for

[Ukwildlifeo]

for insects Micheal chinery has 3 general books (and a few others on select groups!). It best to look at all 3 and choose you ve fave. Ones just pictures of insects, ones a photo guide on just insects (Complete British insects) and I believe the latest (a 2nd edition) has spiders and some other creepy crawlies too. Sorry I only know the name of the photo guide

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Thanks for the ideas guys....I will do a bit of research on them and see what prices I can get them each for. Has anyone read or got any copies of Mike Tomkies books?

Cheers Jacob

[asheleaf]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

Thanks for the ideas guys....I will do a bit of research on them and see what prices I can get them each for. Has anyone read or got any copies of Mike Tomkies books?

Cheers Jacob

I read half of one of his books but couldnt get into it and gave up. I have to confess to being bored by it. However, I am not a bird person and most of it did concern birds so you may find it more interesting.

If you want the copies i have i can send them to you for the price of the postage. They are heading for the charity shop.

Ashe

[ChrisJB]

One of my favourite books is 'Fauna Britannica' by Richard Mabey. A really readable book, with a cultural slant on British flora.

Regards, Chris

[Kerry]

Hi Jacob

I have read Mike Tomkies books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Fascinating reading regards the Eagles but also interesting with regards wild cats and pine martins. I would recommend them for anyone interested in our rarer species.

Another book that I would recommend is Wild Health by Cindy Engel. This is a fascinating read on how animals medicate themselves with herbs and minerals in order to stay healthy. Humans could learn a lot from observing animals more and following their lead.

If you have an interest in specifics then I would recommend The Distribution and Status of the Polecat (Mustela putorius) in Britain in the 1990s I have a special interest in this wonderful animal so I found this book fascinating. It gives details of diet, habits, distribution, as well as detailing possible cross breeding with domestic ferrets.

[Kerry]

This is a link to a write up on Cindy Engel's book that will give you an idea of its contents. It is quite topical with its reference to TB.

Animal instinct | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

[Stewy]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

One of my favourite books is 'Fauna Britannica' by Richard Mabey. A really readable book, with a cultural slant on British flora.

Regards, Chris

Another excellent one by Richard Mabey if your into foraging is "Food For Free"

Amazon.co.uk: Food for Free: Books: Richard Mabey

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

One of my favourite books is 'Fauna Britannica' by Richard Mabey. A really readable book, with a cultural slant on British flora.

Regards, Chris

Think you mean Flora Britanica!

[mrs fish]

Collins "Complete British Wildlife" by Paul Sterry is good,
it covers all wildlife including mammals/birds/ insects/plants/fungi/crustaceans etc, it is a good all rounder and handy to take out or to have until you decide which part of wildlife you are really interested in

[PMG]

I have bought books steadily since 1984: most are Collins Guides (Insects, Orchids, Land snails, mushrooms and toadstools (this was the first I think!) Mosses Lichens & Ferns, Seashore, Spiders etc) and these give me a chance to identify something and also by reading and looking at the pics - a rough knowledge of something before I find it!! One of the best flower identifiers is the Wild Flowers of the British Isles by Gerrard and Streeter - its a biggie not one to carry round the fields - but I've found it best for its acurate life-size paintings and ID pointers - and a quick way to ID esp when on holiday - rather than reading thro a key (which can be done later).

For serious flower ID I have the Three Wise Men as we used to call it at school - Clapham, Tutin and Warburg Flora and their Excursion Flora for taking into the field, also Clive Stace. And both Watson and Smiths books on Mosses and Liverworts.

At our old address (which reminds me to reorder) I used to get the latest 'newspaper-type' paper from the Natural History Book Store/Shop (Totnes, Devon) advertising natural history books and this is very useful - not only having all the latest natural history books in , but a huge selection of advertising for stuff already published. It can be hit and miss by mail order and not having seen the book first - I have a huge tome from them on fungi and I cannot get into it (all scientific text and no pretty picture!!) Maybe when I retire I might read more........

Most of my library are ID-type books, but a few are about a subject rather than what it actually is: Enjoying Moths by Roy Leverton, The Private Life of Plants David Attenboro from the tv series, British Isles - Alan Titmarsh same to accompany tv series, Badgers by Ernest Neal, British Bats - John Altringham, a range from the New Naturalist series. Also books about photographing a range of natural history subjects. And several guides to various nature reserves around the country plus stuff bought on holiday such as the Natural History of Dorset, Flora of Cumbria, Flora of Hampshire etc.

There's lots to go at 'out there' so good luck and enjoy!

Pauline

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Hey everyone,

Just bought myself a copy of The Private Life of the Rabbit by Ron Lockley and managed to find a copy of Tomkies book on Golden Eagles in a charity shop!

Just started reading A Last Wild Place though again by Tomkies which has got me reading every last minute of spare time!

Cheers Jacob

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

Hey everyone,

Just bought myself a copy of The Private Life of the Rabbit by Ron Lockley and managed to find a copy of Tomkies book on Golden Eagles in a charity shop!

Just started reading A Last Wild Place though again by Tomkies which has got me reading every last minute of spare time!

Cheers Jacob

tomkies is very good - there are actually three on golden eagles - "golden eagle years" , "on wing and wild water", and "last eagle years" - i also like last wild place and also his wild cat books - now compiled into one volume "wild cat haven"

most recently i picked up his canadian book - alone in the wilderness covering his time in canada trekking after grizlies etc before he came to scotland.

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by honedan

HI,

As an ecological consultant good text books are vital the one's we use the most are F. Rose to british wild flowering plants, Stace and reders digest guide to british wild flowers and their guide to trees both have great drawings and are easy to use.


honedan

I second the recomendation for the readers digest field guides, It has taken me sometime to collect the full set, but it has been well worthwhile, they do not baffle you with science, but are extremely informative.