New and used bird books, binoculars, birdwatching equipment, and free birdwatching magazine
#lowcarbonbirding - It would appear that this topic is very much coming to the forefront of birding conversations in the present climate emergency. Not everyone lives next to a 'local patch' , particularly those who live in cities. There are however practical steps that all birder's can take to minimise their carbon footprint. The use of public transport, car sharing and other initiatives all help.
A number of articles have been written on the subject including one in BritishBirds Magazine here and a low-carbon web site here
Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland
Stunningly illustrated and simple to use, this brand new, fully updated, edition of a practical and informative guide is a must for any birdwatchers pocket.
Collins BTO Guide to British Birds
In a unique new collaboration, Collins have paired up with the respected British Trust for Ornithology, bringing together the most authoritative and up-to-date information in this new field guide to the common birds of Britain and Ireland.
Europe's Birds: An Identification Guide
Covering more than 900 species, and illustrated with over 3,800 photographs, this is the most comprehensive, authoritative and ambitious single-volume photographic guide to Europe’s birds ever produced.
The Advanced Bird Guide:
This innovative guide will be an essential addition to the library of any serious birder. It accurately describes every key detail of every plumage of all 1,000 species that have ever occurred in Britain, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East the region known to all keen birdwatchers as the Western Palearctic.
Flight Identification of European Passerines
A richly illustrated, state-of-the-art field guide for identifying European passerines in flight-the first of its kind Opening up new frontiers in birdwatching, this is the first field guide for identifying European passerines in flight, featuring more than 1,850 stunning colour illustrations from acclaimed bird artist Tomasz Cofta, who creates remarkably lifelike images using the latest digital technology.
Seawatching can present identification difficulties to even the most experienced birdwatcher, and demands a specialised set of skills and strategies to deal with the challenges of bad weather and poor visibility. The rewards can be great; many species of seabird live exclusively at sea outside their breeding seasons, while many others undertake regular coastal migrations.
RSPB Garden Birds
Form urban rooftops to open meadows, the incredible diversity of gardens in the British Isles can provide refuge and feeding opportunities for a vast array of birds. Even the smallest gardens can attract some birdlife and watching garden birds is a great joy for all nature lovers, brightening each day and providing an immediate connection with the wider and wilder world beyond the fence.
The Really Useful Garden Bird Handbook
The Really Useful Garden Bird Handbook tells you everything
you need to know to attract, feed, and shelter wild birds in your
garden. It explains how you can turn even the smallest garden into
a haven for birds all year round.
There is a special chapter on how to identify a wide range of
potential visitors, by sight and sound, with a further section on
bird behaviour to enable the watcher to understand what birds are
doing and why.
Ayrshire
Often referred to as 'Scotland in miniature' because of its range of scenery, Arran is one of the most accessible and spectacular islands on Scotland’s west coast...
Badenoch & Strathspey
Abernethy Forest
Located on the southern fringe of the Spey Valley to the north of the Cairngorm massif in the eastern Highlands of Scotland. It is the largest remaining tract of native pinewood in Britain....
Broomhill Bridge
Built from timber by engineer John Mackenzie, Broomhill Bridge still stands to this day and is an excellent picnic spot as it allows views of one of the most spectacular sand martin colonies. Look out for Hobby in summer as they have bred at the nearby Strathspey estate.....
A natural Scots pinewood, at Grantown-on Spey with crested tit and Capercaillie. There are several waymarked trails through the woods which also takes in part of the River Spey.....
Coire Na Ciste car park
Situated on the Cairngorm mountain road. The RSPB have provided a grouse watch platform (red & black grouse).Look for Ring ouzel next to the disused chairlift station..
Cairngorm Mountains
Cairn Gorm lies at the northern end of the Cairngorm Mountains; a remote plateau which is over 4000ft in height and segmented by deep north to south running valleys.......
Insh Marshes Nature Reserve is an outstanding wetland of international importance covering 1,000 hectares of the floodplain of the river Spey between Kingussie and Kincraig in Inverness-shire.
Insh Church
Situated on the south bank of the Spey, there are fine views overlooking Loch Insh and the ospreys, regular black-throated and red throated divers.....
Rothiemurchus
Rothiemurchus is a haven for birdwatchers, with a great diversity of habitats ranging from the water, farmland and mixed woodland of the River Spey flood plain, through the old Caledonian pine forests to the high mountain areas of Braeriach in the Cairngorms.
Borders
The Hirsel is one of the most important sites in Southern Scotland - and one of the few areas to find the illusive Hawfinch.
Dumfries & Galloway
Lying in the heart of the Annan valley, this excellent little reserve is home to the largest artificial Sand Martin colony in the UK...
Caerlaverock
Perhaps the most famous of Caerlavarock's visitors are the wild Barnacle Geese that arrive on the reserve every October from Svalbard in the high Arctic.....
Castle Loch
Castle Loch is a large freshwater loch that is home to roosting pink footed and greylag geese in the winter. Around Lochmaben Castle there are footpaths, picnic tables and areas to watch birds from.....
Clatteringshaws Loch is a reservoir in the Dumfries and Galloway district of southern Scotland. It was created by damming the Galloway River Dee as part of the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme. Siskin and Crossbill can be seen around the visitor centre...
The Galloway Kite Trail
The trail is an anticlockwise route of some twenty four miles around Loch Ken (winter) with an additional fourteen miles of forest drive (summer only)......Pic Tony Hisgett Flikr.
Loch Ken
A narrow 9 mile long loch flanked by marshland supporting important numbers of both breeding and wintering wildfowl. The RSPB reserve has breeding Willow Tit, Nuthatch and Water rail....
A large sea loch that is both an important wintering area for divers and grebes, and a breeding site for terns, shelduck and waders..
RSPB Mersehead
With shimmering Solway sands and the lakeland fells on the far side, and the rolling heather-clad hills on the other, Mersehead is surrounded by breath-taking scenery ....
Papy Ha' Bird Trail
Starting at the Kirroughtree visitor Centre, the Pary ha' bird trail leads through the Palnure Burn valley floor, taking in a wide variety of habitats.....
In the surrounding forest red and roe deer graze on short vegetation whilst overhead buzzards, sparrowhawk, red kite and raven can be seen with crossbills and siskins feeding on tree cones.....
Threave
A viewing platform has been set up in order to view the Osprey's at Threave. Situated next to the town of Castle Douglas it is well signposted on the A75 Dumfries to Stranraer road....
Wigtown Bay Local Nature Reserve is the largest LNR in Britain. The estuary, with large areas of salt marsh and mudflats is vitally important for many of the species that live there, especially for salt tolerant plants and wintering wildfowl.....
Aberlady Bay
Aberlady Bay was designated as Britain's first Local Nature Reserve in 1952 and is managed by East Lothian Council. The Reserve is also part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest....
Spectacular and accessible gannetry 3 miles off the coast of North Berwick. Live pictures broadcast to the Scottish Seabird centre .Thousands of pairs of Gannet breed..
Inchcolm
Inchcolm lies in the Firth of Forth off the south coast of Fife opposite Braefoot Bay, east of the Forth Bridge, south of Aberdour, Fife, and north of the City of Edinburgh... ..
Firth Of Forth
Levenhall Links
At the correct state of the tide it is probably the best place to obtain good views of the common waders, gulls and ducks.....
Highlands
The Farr Road
Bird of prey hotspot that runs between the river Findhorn and the small hamlet of Farr. One of the best places to see merlin in the area and given the right conditions, golden eagle is almost guaranteed.
Handa Island
Spectacular cliffs and spectacular birdlife. Handa is home to 100,000 breeding seabirds including both Arctic and great skua. A regular small ferry crosses in summer and there are also otter, basking shark.....
Forsinard lies at the heart of the internationally important Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland......
Loch Ruthven
Loch Ruthven is located in the north-central Highlands of Scotland about 20 km south of Inverness.....
Coll is a stronghold for the Corncrake . There are also many other breeding birds, including redshanks, lapwings and snipe. In the winter, large numbers of barnacle and Greenland white-fronted geese use the site.
Colonsay & Oronsay
Lying between Mull and Islay, Colonsay offers birders a variety of Hebridean specialities concentrated into a easily explorable island. Nearby Oronsay is also accessible by crossing 'The Strand' at low tide...
Islay
Islay has many superb birding locations including Gruinart Flats, Bridgend Woods, Loch Skerrols, Ballygrant Woods and Loch Ballygrant, Loch Gorm , Machir Bay etc. Geese, Raptors and Chough
Perth and Kinross
Superb site for upland specialities, but particularly good for black grouse. This whole area is 'off the beaten track' and it can be very rewarding birding searching the many lochans for black-throated diver....
Loch of Lowes
Loch of the Lowes covers 98 hectares and from early April to late August the star attraction is a pair of breeding ospreys....
Loch Leven RSPB
Lying beneath the shadow of the Lomond Hills is Loch Leven, the largest loch in lowland Scotland and one of the most important sites for waterfowl in Britain.. ..
Spectacular cliffs overlook the River Tay. A series of walks with breeding Peregrine, Raven and a variety of woodland birds....
Tay Reedbeds
The largest reed bed in the UK hosts the largest population of bearded tit and plenty of other estuarine birds in a beautiful setting....
The Hermitage
An attractive woodland walk leads though spectacularly large Douglas firs to Ossian’s Hall overlooking the Black Linn waterfall.....
Wales
Pembrokeshire
The National Trust headland at Dinas is one of the most spectacular along the Pembrokeshire Coast. At 463 feet in height, the cliffs at provide excellent seawatching across Fishguard Bay to the south and Newport Bay to the north....
Dowrog Common
Wintering wildfowl and birds of prey proliferate on the Common. Hen Harrier roost on site, and Short-eared Owl and Merlin are regular winter visitors....
Skomer and Skokholm
Skomer, Skokholm and Middleholm are three islands lying off the extreme south-west tip of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales. They are bounded by cliffs that reach 70 m on Skomer.....
Stackpole estate lies in the south of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, between the villages of Stackpole and Bosherston. A beautiful mixture of habitats including the famous Bosherston Lilly ponds..
St Govan's Head
Beathtaking scenery, chough's and other seabirds makes St Govan's head a 'not to be missed' birding location at all times of the year....
The Breeding Birds of North Wales
Framed by the magnificent and internationally important coastline from the Dyfi round Anglesey to the Dee, North Wales, which includes the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, is a very special place for birds. In excess of 700 contributors submitted more than 200,000 records over five summers to produce this fascinating atlas of the area's breeding birds. Lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs this beautiful full colour book includes fully bilingual introductory chapters, a Welsh language precis alongside each English language species account and a wealth of recording data, maps and tables.
Gronant Dunes, near Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales, is interesting not only for the Little Terns, which are rare in Britain, but also for the natterjack toads, sand lizards, and many butterflies and flowers found there. The book is an illustrated diary of the author's three summers there spent drawing and studying these beautiful, graceful, aggressive, and annoying birds. It includes over 20 watercolours as illustrations.
Birds in Wales
The rugged countryside of Wales has long been a destination for successive generations of naturalists, ornithologists, oologists and, latterly, birdwatchers. Since the pioneering days of Willoughby and Ray, Pennant and Edward Llwyd, a growing number of intrepid travellers have recorded the wildlife and other natural riches of the mountains and coastlines of Wales. Despite these beginnings and the more recent twentieth century vogue for birdwatching, no volume on the birds of Wales has been produced until now to serve the increasing need for scientifically valid information for conservation purposes. In the years that have passed since the first naturalists visited Wales, changes of unimaginable scale have taken place in the Welsh countryside which have had equally dramatic impacts on the native bird communities.
Binoculars & Brushes: A year painting birds in the Welsh Marches
How difficult would it be to see one hundred different species of bird in a year? And paint them. And write about it. In Binoculars and Brushes, Julian Livsey shares a year-long adventure that started with the basic premise that we are surrounded by birds, yet we barely notice them. Month by month he takes us on a seasonal journey through Shropshire and the Welsh Marches, painting the birds that cross his path. We discover familiar birds of the garden, take part in ornithological conservation surveys, and glimpse some of the watercolour paintings completed along the way. This book is for anyone who has ever wondered about all the birds hiding in plain sight.
The Birds of Radnorshire
Comprehensive guide to the birds of Radnorshire in mid-Wales. Introduction to the county and its habitats with 32 photographs. Past and current status for all 254 species recorded in the county. Illustrated by the renowned bird artist Alan Harris. Sumptuous, high quality hardback volume written by Pete Jennings, Radnorshire County Bird Recorder since 1986.
Birds, Boots and Butties: Anglesey
Anglesey is a fascinating location for walking and for birdwatching - this book enables you to combine both and also to enjoy some of the history and heritage of the island at the same time. The 10 walks include seaside strolls, riverside rambles and headland paths. Approximately 2 hours long, these are walks for everyone.
Birds of Anglesey
Anglesey is a popular destination for visitors and from the naturalists among them there has been a steady strem of published notes about their visits. The aims of this volume are to summarise the county's ornithological history and records up to the end of 1999. Provide a benchmark statement on the distribution and abundance of birds in the late 1990s and to identify any changes in status of birds. B/w illustrations.colour photographs and illustrations. 596pp. 2004
The Birds of Glamorgan
Major survey of the avifauna of this region of South Wales. Despite the pressures of industry and a large population, Glamorgan still supports a diverse range of bird habitats, a fact reflected in the wide variety of birds that breed in and visit the county. This book details the local history of those birds from the earliest records until 1992, and includes maps showing the distribution of breeding birds throughout the county.
Birds of Breconshire: A Review of Status and Distribution
Publisher : Imprint unknown (1 April 1976)
The Birds of Cardiganshire
ASIN : B0007KGDGS
Birds OF Radnorshire and Mid-Powys
Birds in Wales 1992-2000
Publisher : Welsh Ornithological Society (23 Mar. 2002)
Birds of the Welsh Coast
T.G.Walker. Hardback University of Cardiff 1956.100pp.many excellent b/w photographs
Guide to the Birds of Wales
New from the award-winning Wild Guide series, with over 600 secret adventures and 500 places to eat and sleep. Taking you to places no other guidebook reaches. Discover secret sandy beaches lapped by turquoise seas, and dramatic limestone cliffs honeycombed with sea caves; watch the sunrise from inside an ancient cromlech, and conquer ruined castles and snow-covered peaks; wander through enchanted woods and dive into crystal-clear waterfalls; descend into tunnels and caverns, or swim in a pure mountain tarn overflowing with legend. Then feast by the fire of a cosy inn and stargaze from your tent or sheepskin-strewn hideaway. This inspiring travel compendium reveals the most exciting hidden places in Wales, and the Herefordshire and Shropshire Marches.
Letters from Skokholm
R.M Lockley. A classic. Hardback 243pp.1st ed 1947.From inside front cover ;-
'Charles Tunnicliffe is at his greatest in the series of illustrations made at Skokholm. No lover of nature can be without such a book, with its great store of new observations packed into a rich and delightful prose'.
The Natural History of Skokholm Island
Dream Island (Nature Classics)
In 1927, Ronald Lockley took a 21 year lease on the small island of Skokholm, just off the Pembrokeshire coast in South Wales. A keen ornithologist, he began studies of the bird life on the island, and on neighbouring Skomer, famous today for its puffins. In the 1930s he published two books about his life on the island, Dream Island (1930) and Island Days (1934), which are now combined in this one volume. Lockley was a hugely influential figure in natural history and was lauded by Sir Peter Scott and Richard Adams, the author of Watership Down, who also used him as a character in his book The Plague Dogs. Today, Dream Island offers an insight into an extraordinary and influential figure, and strongly evoke his island life.
Skomer Island: The History and Natural History of a National Nature Reserve
The definitive analysis of one of the UK's most beloved nature spots, written by an expert with 50 years' experience in the field and a long-standing connection with the island. Hundreds of stunning colour photographs throughout. Forewords by Iolo Williams and Prof Chris Perrins, FRS.
Skomer is a captivating Welsh island and one of Britain's most spectacular National Nature Reserves. It has internationally important populations of seabirds, including puffins and Manx shearwaters, and large numbers of grey seal pups are born on the island's beaches. The breath-taking displays of spring flowers, including coast-to-coast bluebells, give the island an almost unrivalled beauty, and it is also one of the best-preserved prehistoric landscapes in Britain. The author has known the island for most of his life, including a decade spent as warden of the island.
Waterfalls of Stars: Ten Years on Skomer Island
When Rosanne Alexander s boyfriend Mike was offered the job of warden of Skomer, a small uninhabited island off the south west tip of Wales, they had just ten days to leave college, marry (a condition of employment) and gather their belongings and provisions for the trip to the island. This was the first of many challenges Roseanne and Mike faced during their ten years on the nature reserve, from coping with periods of isolation when they were the island s only inhabitants, to dwindling food supplies during the winter when rough weather made provisioning from the mainland impossible. Thrown on their own resources they had also to deal with catastrophes like the devastation of the island s seal colony following an oil spill.
Skomer: Portrait of an Island
Skomer Island is a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a world-renowned bird paradise and home to the world s largest colony of Manx Shearwaters. In this superb natural history book Jane provides a close up of the island. Its six chapters illustrate the landscape, seasons, populations and the research that takes place throughout the year. A collection of over 100 full colour photographs, with contributions from Iolo Williams and Matthew Parris, this unique book encapsulates the beauty and magic of Skomer, an ideal gift for wildlife enthusiasts worldwide. This new compact edition makes Skomer an affordable, portable and practical guide to Wales at its engaging and spectacular best.
Sheer Cliffs and Shearwaters:
A Skomer Island Journal
The author explores the natural history of Skomer Island, and provides a personal reflection on life and work of a beautiful and remote seabird colony off the west Wales coast.
Island of Skomer: A preliminary survey
ASIN : B0000CHVZS
Cliffs of Freedom. The Story of Skomer Island
Skomer Island. West Wales NT
Raft of Puffins: Poems for Skomer Island
Poetry pamphlet by Camilla Reeve about Skomer Island in Wales and illustrated with wildlife photographs, published in 2016. Over several years, Camilla volunteered as an Assistant Warden on Skomer wildlife sanctuary off the coast of Pembrokeshire. In this collection she celebrates the landscape of a natural nature reserve - with its birds, moths, voles, flowers, Iron Age valleys and standing stones.
Pembrokeshire: New Naturalist
A Systematic survey of all bird species reported in Pembrokeshire, both resident and visiting. Includes data from Murray Mathew's 19th century Birds of Pembrokeshire, the Birds of Pembrokeshire of 1947, and all research carried out since then. Extensive bibliography.
Birds of Skokholm
An account of the birds recorded on the island (262spp) with histograms showing movement patterns for about 60 of the common migrants & graphs for 16 species of breeding birds over a 60-year period. B/w drawings bibliography. 74 pages.
Birds of the Pembrokeshire Coast
ASIN : B0015A14LS
Birds of Caernarvonshire
Peter Hope Jones. Cambrian ornithological society 1976.Paperback.87pp.Map with full systematic list up to this date.
A Brief Guide to the Birds of Pembrokeshire
Publisher : H.G. Walters; 1st edition (1 Dec. 1976)
Birds of Caernarfonshire
TThe County Avifauna series provides detailed information on the range and status of bird species at county level. Areas covered so far include Norfolk, Suffolk, Dorset, the Shetland Islands and the Isles of Scilly, with The Birds of Essex in press. Each title includes a breakdown of rarity records, and there are introductory sections describing the area's ecology, climate, ornithological history and conservation record, as well as a gazeteer of the best sites to visit. Gwent contains a wide range of habitats in a relatively small area, including estuarine wetland in the south, valleys in the west, and uplands in the north, with heavily wooded areas in the Usk and Wye valleys. Major sites include the Newport Wetlands, which attracts visitors from throughout Wales and the west of England to its wet grassland, saline lagoons and freshwater reedbeds. Other important sites include Peterstone Wentlooge.
Birdwatching Walks in Gwent
104 page hardback published 1982. B/W photos, drawings and maps. Status etc.
Gwent Atlas of Breeding Birds
Publisher : Gwent Ornithological Society; First Edition - Paperback (1 Dec. 1987)
Wings Over Wales
Gerald Summers. Illustrated by David Nockels
Hardback;207pp.Black & White drawings.. Collins 1979.
Wings Over the Valley: A Bird Watcher's Wales
John evans.1990.Paperback.64pp,colour and b/w photos. Map and ID plate. Outlines main areas in which the Red Kite can be seen.
Bird Life in Wild Wales
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