British Birds: A photographic guide to every common species (Collins Complete Guide)

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The eggs of the buzzard and the sandwich tern are much more alike than the buzzard and the sandwich tern. The book starts with a combination of profile silhouettes, accompanied by smaller photos to distinguish ‘birds on water’, ‘larger standing and perched birds’, ‘small landbirds’ and ‘birds in flight’, and then moves onto habitats with lists of what might be seen where, before getting to the species themselves. Bho Bheul an Eòin / From the Bird’s Mouth aims to give Scottish- Gaelic names to species that currently lack them: recently recognised species, such as the Scottish Crossbill Loxia scotica; recent colonists and increasingly frequent vagrants, such as the European Bee-eater Merops apiaster; and introduced species, such as the Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus. This delightful little book caught the judges’ eyes not simply for its skill in showing the reader how to create realistic artwork but also for the fact that it pays particular attention to the anatomy and structure of the birds it illustrates. As a result of its wide appeal, the judges recognised this title as one of the most useful titles of 2022.

another one of the top quality bargain books we have come to expect from Princeton's WildGuides series. While photo guides are not everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no doubting that this is one of the best and the most complete out there. Wrapped around this is a beautiful selection of artwork by the author, poetry, and short stories around the history and status of a particular animal in Scotland and the reasons behind the choice of its Gaelic name. Whenever I want to re-enter the avian world, whether inside or outside my head, these are on my list.The very thought of a book on gulls is enough to send some folk running – so the judges were pleased to see that this guide offered a straightforward approach to gull identification. David Tipling is one of the world's most widely published wildlife photographers and the author or commissioned photographer of many books. There is something to learn from every book on this list, and certainly something for every type of reader. Despite the narrow geographical scope of the book (a clifftop local patch in Yorkshire), this title is a shining example of what a single person can produce with dedication and passion. The prestigious Best Bird Book of the Year award is open to all books reviewed by BTO and British Birds in the year of consideration.

It is not just the superb array of photos (the claim is 1600 and there is no reason to doubt it), distinguishing the species in various age plumages, but also the organization. The first thing that strikes you about this anthology of fiction and poetry inspired by the work of artist Joseph Cornell is what a beautiful object it is. Bird books have been a constant presence in my life, from Ladybird Books to field guides via fiction and non-fiction with one thing in common. With the wipe-clean and hard-wearing flexicover, this is most definitely suitable for use in the field.ByAndy Swash, Rob Hume, Hugh Harrop and Robert Still; WILDGuides, 2021; reviewed in BBby Chris Kehoe ( Brit. It’s clear that a considerable amount of work has gone into selecting a wide range of images that show variation and different postures for each species, including attempting to get photos of vagrant species taken in Europe rather than from their native range.

This book about vagrancy - a potentially dense and academic subject - offers something for all birders and ornithologists, from birdwatchers and rarity seekers to conservationists studying habitat loss. The judges valued this title for its birder-orientated approach to habitats, making the topic accessible and engaging even to those among the panel who admitted they had not given it much thought previously! A useful companion for a bird illustrator, it will also prove an invaluable guide for anyone keen to begin drawing birds in their fieldnotes. There is no doubt that Low Carbon Birding will have a substantial impact on the world of ornithology. I can sit down with the RSPB Handbook of British Birds by Peter Holden and Tim Cleeves and soon find myself as engrossed as I would be by, say, Elizabeth Stott’s uncanny avian tale The Rhododendron Canopy.The final vote took place in mid December, with the usual lively discussion and debate between the judges before they cast their votes to determine the winning title. My copy is inscribed – “To Nicholas, On becoming amphibious, Love Dad” – and dated 7 July 1973, and a key explains that a pencil tick means I have seen a bird, while my younger sister used a ballpoint. Birds and eggs, for instance; but there’s a greater degree of difference between birds than between their eggs. The narrow geographical scope of the book (a clifftop local patch in Yorkshire) enhances rather than detracts from the author's dedication and passion.

Birds of Buckton includes an extensive introduction to the area, as well as a systematic list that provides details of all of the species recorded at Buckton in the last five decades. The panel felt that Gulls of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East would make a good first guide for those new to ‘gulling’, as well as providing an expert reference for those who have been dedicated birders for decades.

This year, Hazel McCambridge, Maria Farooqi and Jenna Woodford represented BTO on the judging panel, while Paul French, Sarah Harris and Stephen Menzie represented British Birds. At a time when rewilding and wildlife-friendly land management are rising in the public consciousness, the judges felt that this book offers a nuanced view and does not shy away from its subject's complexities. This innovative and carefully designed photographic guide provides a concise introduction to the identification of the 246 birds most likely to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland.