Which pocket guide do you use.?

[bassist]

I still use the book that got me into birding,after finding it down the river ribble preston lancs whilst hunting for driftwood about 12 years ago.!.Its the"Mitchell beazley, Birdwatchers pocket guide,Peter hayman,RSPB".I find it a top little book,except when identifying canaries hehe......!

[amanda]

Hi Bassit,I have a Collins Birds of Britain&Europe small book I take when I'm out,at home I have "David Alderton,Encyclopedia of European Birds"and a old"Reader's Digest,Birds of Britain" would like some more books as the same bird can look diffrent in diffrent books(well that's my excuse!)

[bassist]

Originally Posted by amanda

Hi Bassit,I have a Collins Birds of Britain&Europe small book I take when I'm out,at home I have "David Alderton,Encyclopedia of European Birds"and a old"Reader's Digest,Birds of Britain" would like some more books as the same bird can look diffrent in diffrent books(well that's my excuse!)

I also have that 2.The day will come amanda if we keep spotting,when we will not need a field guide whilst out birding,except for the rarest birds.Alanj said on another thread,about chiffchaffs,after not being sure about the identity ,i see them all the time now..!.I guess it works like that.Pretty sure experienced birders,like clyde birder for instance know what they are looking at instantly 99% of the time,just like us with the more common birds..!We just need to keep plugging away i suppose.!Peace.!Ps The readers digest book,i also have if its the same one .amazing painting of a tawny owl on the cover..!

[Neil Rigby]

I use RSPB Guide to British Birds by David Saunders published by Hamlyn.

The plates were originally put together in 1970, so useful for following Darwin's theories on evolution!

It's pretty basic but easy to carry around for quick reference.

[astafjevs]

One of the more useful books I've got is 'Birds by Behaviour' by Dominic Couzens. Unlike a field guide, it doesn't concentrate at all on what they look like, only on what they do and how they differ from each other. Very useful if, like me, you can't tell a lark from a pipit unless they're singing.

[alanjns]

The field guide to the bird songs and calls of Britain and northern Europe, the RSPB guide to British birds; 2nd ed (free gift when I took out membership) and the Birdguides DVD-ROM: Guide to British birds V9. I also use the internet heavily to get photo's of birds I'm trying to ID.

Like Amanda said, pictures in different guides aren't always the same. I've spent hours pondering a photo that I've taken, comparing it to an image in a guide book, but can't make up my mind because my bird is grey, but the guide shows green etc, but get a photo and more often than not it's grey!

The Birdguides DVD is my favourite at the moment, for the reasons stated above. It has photo's as well as video and makes the ID much easier.

Alan

[clydebirder]

I don't carry a field guide around with me when out alone but keep two main books for reference or when out with groups (which isn't very often these days) one is the "Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe" , it's a superb all rounder and idespencible for British and European trips. My only gripe are the names used, it's a combination of the new universal names and american names eg; divers are called Loons, some of the new names take a bit of getting used to after 40+ years of birding using the familiar names I know so well.
The main field guide I use when with groups is the "Birds of Europe: With North Africa and the Middle East (Helm Field Guides)" illustrated by Lars Jonsson, the illustrations are second to none.

Cheers, John

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by bassist

I still use the book that got me into birding,after finding it down the river ribble preston lancs whilst hunting for driftwood about 12 years ago.!.Its the"Mitchell beazley, Birdwatchers pocket guide,Peter hayman,RSPB".I find it a top little book,except when identifying canaries hehe......!

I use that one too Bassist......we have an old copy in the car and another newer version in our rucksack/pocket......it's a super little book.

I also use the Collins hardback guide and a photgraphic Collins too as sometimes it's useful to see actual images rather than drawings.......and even then I sometimes can't get an ID right!!! lol!

[jonven]

Hi Bassist
I have the Philips guide to Birds of Britian and Europe, Its not a bad book but i seem to find it hard Trying to ID some birds such as the shots I have taken today at Stretford Water Park.
Any help to ID would be great.
Regards Mike

[Dave H]

I've been using the RSPB Pocket Birds book for a while.
Based on your recommendations, I thought that I would like a copy of "Mitchell Beazley, Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide"
I found a few copies available on Amazon, in the used section. For some reason, they are nearly all priced at 1p (with p&p £2.75).
It arrived today, very nice. A 1988 print version. I will need to remember to take my strong reading glasses on outings.

(In the past few months we've bought a butterfly guide and a night sky guide on the same deal.)