REVIEWS

With todays sea-watching events in Cornwall, this short review comes at a pretty good time. Firstly, the paperback copy i have is an ideal size for a big’ish pocket and wasn’t bought to sit on a shelf. I intend to use it in the field (if i ever get chance!). The plates are aimed mainly at identifying flying birds (which is very useful here in Cornwall!) and the aspects of plumage and moult that are discussed in the text are aimed at this. The plates are also arranged so that confusion species are shown together, some of which i admit i had not heard of!  The guide covers 137 species of Pelagic birds and has subspecies and phases fully illustrated. The information on pages opposite the plates is designed for use in the field, with useful tips for identification at sea, at close range or at distance. This book is a must for anyone hitting the headlands for a seawatch this autumn.

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Occasionally, i buy a book about birds without thinking much about it. This one was a fathers Day present. At first and having not read the introduction, i went straight to the first page of Plates. These were extemely well done but of brightly coloured Pittas, flycatchers and minivets. My initial thoughts were, “I’m never going to use this book”. Having then picked it up a few days later and read the introduction explaining what the book was about, i will definitely be using it, practically and eagerly await the second Non-passerine volume.I would liken this book to the Macmillan Field Guide in the way it can be used. The plates are set in such a way that similar species are together and therefore easy to separate. The text is nicely written in almost layman terms and tells you all the salient identification points you NEED to know without the other waffle that would confuse you even more! My particular favourites are the plates containing the American Wood Warblers and the Shrikes. Both of which will be useful in Cornwall and when visiting the Scillies. The book is certainly a welcome addition to my collection and will be with me on the Scillies this October.

Collins Field Guide - Birds of the Palearctic: Passerines (N.Arlott) RRP.£25 Buy this book from Amazon Books. (amazon.co.uk) ISBN 978-0-00-714705-2