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Princeton University Press

Europe’s Birds, An Identification Guide (Book Review)

I’ve never really been a fan of photo field guides. In the past, I’ve always gravitated towards the more nuanced interpretation of a skilled illustrator to highlight key features, to help me identify birds/animals/plants in the field. While that still largely holds true, photo-guides have come on in leaps and….

Book Review: How to Be an Urban Birder

One of the best things about birding is that you can do it wherever you happen to find yourself. Whether you’re in your own back garden, travelling to the remotest corners of the globe, or simply popping out to the shops, birds are everywhere, and there’s always the potential of….

Book Review: Britain’s Dragonflies

Britain's Dragonflies Book Review

Dragonflies and damselflies are the all-stars of the insect world. Large, mobile, active predators — with the possible exception of cephalopods (octopuses, cuttlefish and squid) the odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are about as exciting as invertebrates get. In Ireland we have 11 species of damselfly and 22 species of dragonfly, and while identifying some of….

Book Review: Britain’s Day Flying Moths

Moths are brilliant. Here in Ireland we have only 34 butterfly species — including residents and frequently encountered migrants. We have, to date, more than 1,330 recorded moth species on the island. They come in all sorts of shapes colour and sizes and are a fascinating group of oft-overlooked insects that play a crucial….

Book Review: Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of Britain and Europe

Animal Tracks & Signs

There are no two ways about it, a lot of our wildlife is incredibly tricky to see. You can get lucky, of course. Occasionally birds, and even mammals, lizards or amphibians, will appear out of nowhere, seemingly oblivious to your presence as you marvel them in close proximity. These are,….

All aboard for the Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland Blog Tour

Crossley ID Guide Britain & Ireland Blog Tour

I’m delighted to be taking part in the upcoming “Blog Tour” to celebrate the launch of the brand new bird field guide the Crossley ID Guide Britain & Ireland. I’ll be reviewing a copy of the guide in the Book Review section of the site in due course… but the….