Am reading Crow Country by Mark Cocker (from Bolton Central Library) -- I think it came out last year. Very enjoyable.

Dean Macdonald wrote:

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My wife bought me "Bearded Tit" by Rory McGrath last week.
What a great read it was. I've always liked him. Don't be put off if you don't.
It really is a good book. Reads like an autobiographical novel. The bird watching references are similar to Simon Barnes' but funnier. It's full of suprises, which i can't tell you about without spoiling it. Let's just say it's "moving". It usually takes me a few weeks to read a book but this one took 4 days Couldn't put down. Then Joanne read it all today! and was "moved" to tears.
Stick it on your Fathers day list. It's probably in the bargain section by now.

Dean.

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Just to add to Dean's comments having finished it last week. It's wise, instructive, well-written and very funny indeed. There is also some very good observational writing on birds. Much more than the average witty Christmas read.

Nev Wright wrote:

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Anyone know when the new Collins Guide is out??

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The 2nd Edition of the Birds of Britain & Ireland is out in March, make sure you dont confuse it with the UK & Europe guide.

cheers
jason

Thanks Paul and sorry for late reply. Think I'll leave the exhausting World listers alone for a bit! I'm now on Rory McGrath's 'Bearded Tit' for pure light entertainment.

Anyone know when the new Collins Guide is out??

Glad you enjoyed it Tim, if you are still stuck indoors, try DAN KOEPPEL books To see every bird on earth, the price per bird article, make you just want to stay in GM, hows the window list?

keep birding.

Just read 'Birding on Borrowed Time'. What a good recommendation Paul - perfect for the housebound invalid to travel with the mind. Must admit I'd never heard of most of the birds she mentions but it's funny to suddenly find her describing 'getting to grips with the difference between a Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush' amidst all the Antpittas and Ground-Cuckoos. It all rolls by at a breathless pace and she must have been exhausting in real life. She must also hold the World Record for the largest personal carbon-footprint! In an odd way its a document of a pre-global warming approach to the World and its wildlife.

In trying to find her actual list online (without success) I discovered that there is a biography of Phoebe Snetsinger coming out at the end of March this year called 'Life List: A Woman's Quest for the World's Most Amazing Birds' by Olivia Gentile.

The post lady just delivered my new shrink-wrapped Snetsinger and also a copy of The Lapwing from the nice efficient people at Birding World. Postage was free too. I'd recommend them. Sent me a free sample of the journal too.

Paul - Have you checked out the manchester A2 Z yet for Talbot Road entries

Jason. many thanks, in my quest to collect all the old bird reports and books covering manchester, the new books have slipped me by.

This one looks like a cracker, have ordered it already

keep birding

Looks like this will make interesting reading.

Rare Birds Where and When

cheers
jason

Also £19.95 with free delivery from Amazon and its new.

cheers
jason

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Sean a small review in Frontiers in Birding was done on the Old Book thread,
as for £45 for Snetsingers, I have seen that a number of times and its tosh still in print, try birding world they normally have it for £17.

keep birding

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Paul

Duly ordered from Birding World for £17.50. That's more like it If I want the Bill Oddie there are booksellers giving it away for 1p plus postage

Sean a small review in Frontiers in Birding was done on the Old Book thread,
as for £45 for Snetsingers, I have seen that a number of times and its tosh still in print, try birding world they normally have it for £17.

keep birding

Many thanks for further ideas. The Snetsinger is out of print and seems to be over £45 second hand. I will keep a look out for a cheaper copy. I have read reviews of 'Frontiers in Birding'. Has it been republished now? I believe the print quality and binding were rubbish. I do also have acres of articles in the copies of British Birds Ian kindly lent me to go at.

I will post separately for help with birding from the windows of a terraced house!

Moving along to a totally different book, if you like a bit of everything from birding advice, sites and detailed species studies on hard to split birds then get hold of "Frontiers in Birding", Martin Garner & Friends (ie Ian Wallace, Rob Hume and other big fells in the british bird scene).

It is a great read and one you don't have to read in chapter order or cover to cover, as you will always have preferred topics. It has interesting articles on visible migration, island birdwatching and getting the most from your local patch, not to mention splitting black from common scoter, american moorhen, taiga merlin etc etc.

If you are after something a little different from the usual then it's well worth a read.

Yeah Phoebe Snetsinger was the lady who broke a world record, for seeing alot of birds in the world. As to the end of the book, now that would spoil it for you Tim.

read and enjoy.

Oh and try a window list whilst you are off.

Keep birding.

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Tim, heavy duty stuff the History of Ornithology, be careful of that arm.
how about,
The Big Bird Race Bill Oddie Dave Thomlinson
Birding on Borrowed time Phoebe Snetsinger.

stay well get out there soon.

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many thanks again Paul. Was Phoebe Snetsinger the lady who tried to see all the birds in the world before she died which ended up being at the hands of bandits somewhere in Africa or was that someone else or have I got that mixed up?

Tim, heavy duty stuff the History of Ornithology, be careful of that arm.
how about,
The Big Bird Race Bill Oddie Dave Thomlinson
Birding on Borrowed time Phoebe Snetsinger.

stay well get out there soon.

Thanks Paul Yes I read Stephen Moss's 'A Bird in the Bush' when it came out and very good it is too. His small column in the Guardian is always a pleasure and I have the collected Guardian pieces on order along with Rory McGrath's 'Bearded Tit' which was recommended here. Ready to go next is Peter Bircham's 'History of Ornithology' in the o so beautiful New Naturalist series and I read somewhere that that new book Corvus is highly rated too.

Any other recommendations from anyone much appreciated - preferably books I can easily read in bed and that aren't too heavy as my broken arm gets a bit uncomfortable. So e.g. my Birds Britannica is on on hold for now!

HI Tim sorry to hear about you been out of action, hope you get back on the wheels soon.

As for Stephen Moss try A bird in the Bush the history of birdwatching.

take it easy.

keep birding.

Unable to birdwatch at the moment gives me time to catch up on reading. Just finished 'A Sky Full of Starlings' by Stephen Moss kindly given to me by a work colleague. It's a very readable diary of county birding in Somerset in 2007 and is full of moments of recognition. Highly recommended.

It's being serialised at 0945hrs on Radio 4 this week.

My wife bought me "Bearded Tit" by Rory McGrath last week. What a great read it was. I've always liked him. Don't be put off if you don't. It really is a good book. Reads like an autobiographical novel. The bird watching references are similar to Simon Barnes' but funnier. It's full of suprises, which i can't tell you about without spoiling it. Let's just say it's "moving". It usually takes me a few weeks to read a book but this one took 4 days Couldn't put down. Then Joanne read it all today! and was "moved" to tears. Stick it on your Fathers day list. It's probably in the bargain section by now. Dean.