Tales of a Tabloid Twitcher
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Review
"This book may just become the biggest 'must-read' book for birders." -- Fatbirder.com, July 2, 2010
It's a hoot! -- Bird Watching, August 2010
"..a likeable geezer who knows loads about birds"
-- BBC Wildlife magazine, October 2010
"an account of the most newsworthy events in British birding since the early 1990's"
-- Tales of a Tabloid Twitcher
"...displays an openness and lack of cynicism not always associated with members of the red-top brigade"
--The Guardian, December 2010
"...a good little book to help you while away a few happy hours"
--Birds, February 2011
For more than two decades, Stuart Winter has been the birdwatching community's inside man in the world of British tabloid journalism. Quirky, humorous, plain spoken, but always warm-hearted, generous and with a killer instinct for the great human story - this is our man on the "red tops" at his vintage best. --Mark Cocker, author and naturalist
Stuart has a rich catalogue of anecdotes and is undoubtedly one of Britain's best birding blokes --Chris Packham, TV presenter and wildlife expert
A delightfully mischievous, warm and witty personal account of the birding scene, past and present. --Dominic Couzens, author and birder
As knowledgeable as it is richly entertaining, especially in anecdotes about some of the more singular figures in the birding world. The tone may be light-hearted, but underneath Winter is deeply serious about ornithology and about conservation, and his passion for both of them shines through. --Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor, The Independent
It's a hoot! -- Bird Watching, August 2010
"..a likeable geezer who knows loads about birds"
-- BBC Wildlife magazine, October 2010
"an account of the most newsworthy events in British birding since the early 1990's"
-- Tales of a Tabloid Twitcher
"...displays an openness and lack of cynicism not always associated with members of the red-top brigade"
--The Guardian, December 2010
"...a good little book to help you while away a few happy hours"
--Birds, February 2011
For more than two decades, Stuart Winter has been the birdwatching community's inside man in the world of British tabloid journalism. Quirky, humorous, plain spoken, but always warm-hearted, generous and with a killer instinct for the great human story - this is our man on the "red tops" at his vintage best. --Mark Cocker, author and naturalist
Stuart has a rich catalogue of anecdotes and is undoubtedly one of Britain's best birding blokes --Chris Packham, TV presenter and wildlife expert
A delightfully mischievous, warm and witty personal account of the birding scene, past and present. --Dominic Couzens, author and birder
As knowledgeable as it is richly entertaining, especially in anecdotes about some of the more singular figures in the birding world. The tone may be light-hearted, but underneath Winter is deeply serious about ornithology and about conservation, and his passion for both of them shines through. --Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor, The Independent
Product Description
It may come as a surprise to some people, but tabloid newspaper coverage of the ornithological world does actually extend beyond cheap innuendos about tits and shags. For this we can thank one journalist more than any other - Stuart Winter. A birder since childhood, he has maintained a constant presence in the world of the tabloid news since the mid-1990s, bringing innumerable stories about birds and birdwatchers to the masses in the process. This enthralling book offers a window into the sometimes shady worlds of tabloid journalism and birdwatching. In the process it explores the full stories behind the very best scoops. You may think that birdwatching would be a rather refined hobby, but you would be very wrong indeed. There are tales of obsession - travelling the length and breadth of the country in pursuit of rarities; tragedy - risking life and limb in the line of duty; celebrity - both human and avian, from Jeremy Clarkson and David Attenborough to 'Sammy the Stilt'; crime - from felony to rivalries that turned nasty; and scandal - just what is the most debauched use of a bird hide? In the course of its 18 chapters covering all the key birding events and personalities of the past two decades and beyond, this book may just become the biggest 'must-read' book for birders since Bill Oddie's "Little Black Bird Book". What a scoop that would be.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I generally like reading tales about my favourite hobby so when I saw this I knew I would have to read it - especially as it already had 5* reviews.....from first time reviewers. I'm getting fed up with authors getting mates to review their books, are they that lacking in confidence?
Reading this perhaps Stuart Winter needed their help because this is no five star book. It's okay and I guess I am glad I have read it, but it didn't leave me with a desperation to go out birding or even how interesting it would be to meet the author and discuss it with him.
I suppose I am left feeling rather disappointed by it although I am sure others will love it - perhaps it was the lack of 'lists' (he does mention some) that didn't engage me (too uncompetitive) or the stupid inverted snobbery about Puffins.
I note that Winter writes for the Sunday Express and has previously written for the Star and the News of the World, reading this book with its dreadful proof reading, (which gets worse as the book progresses, I found myself waiting for the next error) one could be forgiven for thinking that he actually writes for the Grauniad!
Not the best birwatching book I have read but not the worst.
Reading this perhaps Stuart Winter needed their help because this is no five star book. It's okay and I guess I am glad I have read it, but it didn't leave me with a desperation to go out birding or even how interesting it would be to meet the author and discuss it with him.
I suppose I am left feeling rather disappointed by it although I am sure others will love it - perhaps it was the lack of 'lists' (he does mention some) that didn't engage me (too uncompetitive) or the stupid inverted snobbery about Puffins.
I note that Winter writes for the Sunday Express and has previously written for the Star and the News of the World, reading this book with its dreadful proof reading, (which gets worse as the book progresses, I found myself waiting for the next error) one could be forgiven for thinking that he actually writes for the Grauniad!
Not the best birwatching book I have read but not the worst.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In recent years there has been a boom in high quality bird books by the UK's top birders. Last year there was Tim Dee's brilliant "The Running Sky". This year we have had to wait until now for Stuart Winter's book which immediately enters into the classic cannon of birding memoirs/folklore from the 80's to the present to rank along side premier established authors/birders such as Stephen Moss and Mark Cocker. Stuart documents personal birding highs and lows, birding with legendary figures such as Bill Oddie and LRG Evans, the agonies and ecstasies of twitching and the importance of preserving British birds and habitats by creating the odd political rumpus. Often funny and always entertaining I devoured this book in a few sittings. I could only fault the book in one respect which was the author's allegiance to the wrong north London team. For more recommendations please see my "Bird watching great reads" by Gooner George in the Listmania section - probably listed below this review.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It was OK and passed a few hours on a snowy afternoon but knowing what I know now I'd have waited until it was on Amazon at 1p plus postage.
The words 're heated leftovers' came to mind as I finished this book which, in the main; consists of extracts from his old newspaper articles with a few 'middle aged man' musings.
Not a patch on Alex Horne's 'Birdwatching watching', now that is full of birds, funny, humane and informative.
The words 're heated leftovers' came to mind as I finished this book which, in the main; consists of extracts from his old newspaper articles with a few 'middle aged man' musings.
Not a patch on Alex Horne's 'Birdwatching watching', now that is full of birds, funny, humane and informative.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent value,
excellent value for money as it was classed as used. no sign of wear & tear. My husband is very pleased with the book and its content.
Published 2 months ago by nurse lizzie
He could at least have dedicated it to his poor wife...
This tells the story of how Stuart Winter became interested in bird watching which in turn led him to a career in journalism, writing first for the Star, and currently for the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Four Violets
A bit of an anti-climax
This book is well-written, light-hearted and makes for quite an enjoyable read. However, I was very much left with the feeling that it failed to live up to what was promised on the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Boggers
A great read
An excellent read. Good storytelling, amusing and informative. You do not have to be a twitcher or birder to find this a fun read.
Published 17 months ago by I. Gordon
A great read.
I was recently given this book as a gift, and love it. It's rare that i find a book i don't want to put down, but this book is so well written and slightly out of the ordinary. Read more
Published 19 months ago by C
Gotcha!!!!
Piers Morgan eat your heart out! Here's a book that will knock Piers off his perch as Britain's foremost tabloid memoirs writer. Read more
Published 21 months ago by David Paul
Listmania!
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