Hi there
I have to say this could be a big question to many of us here - what books. It was 'Littleowl' that gave me the idea for this thread.
What are our favourite bird books over the Years?
Myself, I have an older one but it is so good for bird habits and details. The Oxford book of birds by Bruce Campbell and Donald Watson. It is an older book, but never the less an informative book though a little outdated with some of the birds habits - but still very accurate, and informative.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-ILLUSTRATED-BOOK-OF-BIRDS-BRUCE-CAMPBELL_W0QQitemZ250585256451QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Books_EducationalTextbooks_EducationalTextbooks_GL?hash=item3a580b9203
I know Collins is the more respected bird book of the day. Many birdwatchers love Collins, and are 100 per cent believers in the books that Collins produce are what they want as birdwatchers.
It is good to have other lesser known 'authors' 'makers' etc.. as it adds a lot more interest to the subject of birds.
What other 'interesting ' books have you hidden that are just as interesting - Collins are included too!!.
Love to hear about them
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Kathy
I have Collins Complete Guide to British Birds by Paul Sterry. I think it's very good, but I will go to Amazon and have a look at the one that you suggest.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Blackbird,
A book that we were using The Hamlyn guide to Birds of Britain and Europe by Aurther Singer my husband has had that book since the seventies,another book we have is The Observer's Book of Birds and that one was around in the sixties.
I now have a new book it is the RSPB Pocket Birds of Britain and Europe,i like it very much,so the other two are back on the bookshelf.
Littleowl
I have the Collins Complete guide to British Birds by Paul Sterry and I really like it.
Hi LittleOwl
The Observers book of birds! Love to hear about your Observers Book a whole lot. Is there information about the book?
I have an RSPB Pocket book of birds from the past, and I found it a bit thin on the ground. This book was bought a good while ago. Great for ID's but no for much more!
Hi,
The Observers Book of Birds is a condensed version by S. Vere Benson of British Birds and their Eggs by T.A. Coward.
BB&tE has an authoritative text by Coward the great field man - and has the same illustrations- mostly by the excellent Victorian artist Archibald Thorburn :))
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Field guides I refer to regularly are, in no particular order
Lars Jonsson Birds of Europe cos he's a genius.
Collins Guide cos they know their stuff
Pocket Guide to Britain and Nort West Europe- cos it's small and good for beginners.
Field Guide to Rare Birds of Britain and Europe Colston et al. cos it's useful.
The Handbook of Bird Identification cos the text is excellent.
leaving out field guides my list would be..
Discover birds by D.I.M. Wallace - a 'how to be a real birder' book.
70 Years of Birdwatching by H.G Alexander - history of birdwatching from 1900- 1970 through the eyes of one influential birder.
The Joy of Birding by Chuck Bernstein- a collection of stories of birding in the USA- very amusing :)
seymouraves said: Hi, The Observers Book of Birds is a condensed version by S. Vere Benson of British Birds and their Eggs by T.A. Coward. BB&tE has an authoritative text by Coward the great field man - and has the same illustrations- mostly by the excellent Victorian artist Archibald Thorburn :)) S
Seymouraves has answered your question about The Observers book of Birds(Thankyou Semouraves)
The one that started me off at the tender age of nine was "The Readers Digest/AA Book of British Birds". Some of the illustrations were pretty dire but each species had a little "essay" about it often covering topics you never found from other books like references in folklore and behavioural quirks. It got me hooked anyway......
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Hi everyone
Interesting replies everyone. I will take note of al what has been said here. I do need to update some of my books as some of them where bought a long time ago - still use them though LOL.
Hi John
Yes, I remember The Readers Digest/AA book from when my mum had these books from many years ago. I remember she bought a few of the same AA books over the years. The last one she got was this one noted in the pictures all of the same book. I loved reading them as a youngster
1969 First edition first Revise in 1972
Front cover
Back Cover
Book without cover
The birds pictures and information. The book covers look worse for wear, sadly now.
I've got that book too but in French! (was my grandfather's!)
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