Where to Watch Birds Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Where to Watch Birds Kent,
Surrey and Sussex by Don Taylor, Jeffery Wheatley & Paul James. Helm Nov 2003 £14.99p ISBN 0713664207
Fatbirder aficionados
will know that I ride a regular hobby horse through these reviews – disability access. I have waxed lyrical for those who respect
this basic need by giving site information that helps those with different physical abilities, and that I have been super critical of
those who give it not one thought. I praised the Devon guide in this series and slammed another but I can do nothing but praise this
one in the series as the authors not only went out of their way to cover this wherever possible but actually consulted the dba in
general and me in particular when it came to my corner of Kent. Let me give due public acclaim. I am frankly delighted that access is
dealt with in detail and not just by a wheelchair symbol or lack of it. The authors know that wheelchair access is important but that
the majority of those with mobility problems are not wheelchair users so they give full information about how close one can park, how
steep, narrow or rough tracks are etc. Thanks gentlemen, I for one, greatly appreciate your efforts.
As for the general
information it is not a mere re-print as there are more sites covered and many well-known sites are treated in greater depth. The
maps are also far better, more detail and clarity. I haven`t checked to see if there are more or different illustrations just that
the ones in this volume are excellent – I like line drawings of birds; an art form which is sadly rarely used except in county
reports and the like.
Helm say of the region …although heavily populated, [it] offers some superb birding with its Wealden
woodlands, chalk downs and heathlands, inland waters and stunning coastal sites and how right they are. I feel that this may well
be the last guide to cover the three counties as Kent definitely warrants a stand-alone guide as it is not only very well birded but
also attracts a long list as well as a lot of accidentals because of its long coastline and proximity to France.
This new
edition deserves a place in your library even if you have an older one, it is not only bigger and better but the better and more
detailed maps and access details by themselves warrant the expense.
Fatbirder
Created: 5th Dec 2003
