Kingfisher by David Chandler and Ian Llewellyn | New Holland | Hardcover | 128 Pages | 80 Colour Illustrations | September 2010 | £12.99 | ISBN 9781847735249

Usually encountered as a flash of blue or orange seen from the riverbank, most people are aware of the Kingfisher, but few are familiar with the intricacies of its day-to-day life. Here its remarkable existence is celebrated through a series of chapters with stunning images depicting courtship, nesting, fishing, winter survival and other important events in the lives of Kingfishers, which are further brought to life through the eloquent accompanying text which is enlivened by personal anecdotes from the author and photographer. The book is the first in a series, and it will be followed by Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl in March 2011.

Such treatments of individual species have a popularity beyond the birding public… iconic species such as this and the forthcoming tomes appeal to anyone with an interest in the wild world however marginal or brief. This doesn’t detract from it, and in many ways this forces authors into simple language free on the jargon of ornithology. There is no steep learning curve to the dedicated birder but plenty of interest and such sumptuous images as to delight even the most jaded eye. This book is the equivalent of a casual visit to your local reserve; it doesn’t take a great deal of effort and you will most encounter the familiar, but it is still soul fuel and a great way to spend a few hours.>br>
Fatbirder

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