I have reached the age where my grandchildren keep asking me to identify which birds they have seen. I have been doing this for long enough to have various guide books at a reasonably high level but don't have anything suitable for an 11 year old just starting out.
Can anyone recommend a basic guide to UK birds that I can buy for them but won't put them off by being too complicated.
The Cotswold Water park sightings website
My Flicker page
Bob
I use 2 books, The RSPB Pocket guide to British Birds, author Simon Harrap and the RSPB British Birdfinder author Marianne Taylor (aka aiki). The first one all the birds are illustrations the second are all photos. My 15 year old son prefers aiki's, but the first book is cheaper so could be a better option for a youngster.
Regards Shane
My Photos in Flickr.
Shane, Thank you. I think you are right and will go for the Pocket Guide (sorry Aiki). I know if I open my Collins Guide it is just going to put them off.
How's about an ap or something to go on kindle. It's more likely to be relevant to a child. They also have the benefit of sound to identify bird song.
A bird in the hand can make an awful mess!
Hi- there is also an 'RSPB children's guide to Birdwatching '
It's not bad- I had some input on it - but it's a bit old now and may be hard to find.
:)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Yup!
The RSPB Children's Guide to Birdwatching is v good. Ditto the RSPB Pocket Guide or, for a bit more info per bird, the RSPB Handbook of British Birds (this one: www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=sr_1_1) - should be fine for an 11-year-old. Thanks for the plug for Birdfinder, Shane, but it's really a 'how to find' guide rather than an identification guide so not going to fit the bill here :)
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Well thank you all. I did a routine search and didn't come up with half these. The issue now is how to keep the interest going. It only takes one small thing and you never know. My granddaughter wanted to see kingfisher and I struggled, then she found her own on the way to school, that seemed to kick her off.