Edited By Neil Gartshore | Calluna Books | Paperback | Oct 2019 | 328 Pages | B&W Illustrations & two-tone Maps | ISBN: 9780993347740 | £20.00 | Offer price £18.00p inc P&P when ordered direct from www.callunabooks.co.uk
This annual yearbook contains the latest information of relevance to UK birdwatchers, including updated checklists and tide tables, the events diary for 2020, and details on nature reserves.
The Publisher’s View: Since it was first published in 1981, The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook has been a one stop shop for up-to-date and verified information for birdwatchers of every skill level and depth of interest. The 2020 version has:
– the latest Checklists for British birds, dragonflies and butterflies
– fully updated guide to around 380 UK bird/nature reserves
– birding events diary for 2020
– tide table information right through to April 2021 to help you get the best from your coastal birding trips
– directories of wildlife lecturers/photographers, BTO speakers, art galleries, artists and trade outlets of interest to birdwatchers
Furthermore, all the features that have made The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook an indispensable companion for so many years, including comprehensive directories of county, national and international birding groups; a birding diary with monthly bird note pages; and a quick reference section.
Fatbirder View: Every year for many years I have reviewed the Birdwatcher’s Yearbook and recommended it as an essential companion for any British birder. So, is it any different this year? Well, it continues to evolve under its new ownership – the excellent look and feel and layout is only very gradually changing and this edition has a mature feel too it preserving everything that was excellent and continuing to add to Neil’s slightly different stamp. Highlighting the reserves section makes sense so that birders travelling to a new area for a twitch or reserve visit can easily see what else is nearby.
As I’ve said before, all the information is at hand for those times when the internet isn’t and I’m sure there will be many birders out their whose copies get dog-eared and tatty from being chucked in the car so you can quickly check tide times or sunset before ending your birding day out. I keep mine in the car, now that I’ve made room by using the Collin’s app rather than hard copy.
This year there is no exception it remains the MUST HAVE companion to every UK birdwatcher. I’ve said this before too, but non-birding partners will get brownie points if they slip this volume into their spouse’s Christmas stocking! It’s hard to imagine anything having even half as much value in such a small package.
Fatbirder