No worries Mike, and thanks for the reply. I'm torn between getting a comprehensive one for if I ever find myself in that neck of the woods again, or a small one which will just cover Bali...to be honest they're all about £25+ so thinking a bigger one would at last be more value for money!
-- Edited by David Morris on Sunday 8th of November 2015 08:24:22 PM
Mike Passant said
Sun Nov 8 4:53 PM, 2015
Hi again Dave
I also have Craig Robson's SE Asia field guide which I consider very good but it covers some 1250 species which is probably overkill for where you are going but significantly is not comprehensive for Bali. The book mentions that "some of the species covered" are also found on Bali. For example, you will see Javan Kingfisher in the rice fields and possibly Sacred Kingfisher on the coast; neither of these appear in the Robson guide.
Unfortunately I don't live in Greater Manchester otherwise you could take a look at my copies and borrow one or both of them ahead of your trip.
Regards,
Mike P
David Morris said
Fri Nov 6 5:35 PM, 2015
So...I'm off to Bali next year on my honeymoon, and the missus will let me have a bit of time birding, included at least one guided tour. I thought I'd swat up in advance. As a result, I have been looking for a fieldguide to treat myself to, and have found there are about 5 options. Has anyone had any experience of using the following books in that part of the world, and if so, how good/bad did they find them?
A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia by Craig Robson A Photographic Guide to Birds of Java, Sumatra and Bali by Tony Tilford A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Indonesia by Morton Strange Birding Indonesia edited by Paul Jephson A fieldguide to the Birds of Borneo Sumatra,Java and Bali by MacKinnon and Phillipps.
Mike Passant said he used the MacKinnon & Phillips one when he went, but the Robson one seems to get better reviews on Amazon even though if lacks distribution maps. Before I part with between £25 and £40 I thought I'd see if anyone else had any experience of using any of these books.
-- Edited by David Morris on Sunday 8th of November 2015 08:24:22 PM
Hi again Dave
I also have Craig Robson's SE Asia field guide which I consider very good but it covers some 1250 species which is probably overkill for where you are going but significantly is not comprehensive for Bali. The book mentions that "some of the species covered" are also found on Bali. For example, you will see Javan Kingfisher in the rice fields and possibly Sacred Kingfisher on the coast; neither of these appear in the Robson guide.
Unfortunately I don't live in Greater Manchester otherwise you could take a look at my copies and borrow one or both of them ahead of your trip.
Regards,
Mike P
A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia by Craig Robson
A Photographic Guide to Birds of Java, Sumatra and Bali by Tony Tilford
A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Indonesia by Morton Strange
Birding Indonesia edited by Paul Jephson
A fieldguide to the Birds of Borneo Sumatra,Java and Bali by MacKinnon and Phillipps.
Mike Passant said he used the MacKinnon & Phillips one when he went, but the Robson one seems to get better reviews on Amazon even though if lacks distribution maps. Before I part with between £25 and £40 I thought I'd see if anyone else had any experience of using any of these books.