| Edited by Neil Gartshore | Calluna Books | 2020 | Paperback | 328 Pages | Black & White Illustrations & Two-tone Maps | ISBN: 9780993347764 | £19.99p* |
The Publisher’s View:
The Birdwatcher’s Yearbook has been the essential work of reference for British birdwatchers since 1981. Whatever you need to know, you’ll find it in the Yearbook.
Contents include:
– Special features
– Recording, Documenting & Archiving Our County Birds
– Helping Kenya’s Dakacha Forest
– News from the World of Birds
– Best Bird Books of the Year
– The latest Checklists for British birds, dragonflies and butterflies
– Fully updated guide to around 380 UK bird/nature reserves
– Birding events diary for 2021
– Tide table information for 2021 through to April 2022 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
Plus, 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 organisations; a birding diary with monthly bird note pages; and a quick reference section.
Fatbirder View:
Here’s what I said last year:
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.
Have I anything to add? Not much and all good. Flicking through the UK bird checklist I see at the end checklists for butterflies and odonata. Have they always been there? Maybe I only just noticed as I now keep those lists too.
I’ve always liked the articles too, having written some over the years. This year I most like James Lowen’s contribution News From The World Of Birds.
I’ve just one other thing to say… thanks Neil, not just for taking this on and producing the 41st annual edition, which is even better, but for responding so positively to my note last year and sending this out in 100% recyclable packaging!
*Available direct from Calluna Books for £18.00p inclusive of second-class postage… what a bargain!
Fatbirder