A bad birdwatcher's companion...or a personal introduction to Britain's 50 most obvious birds: Amazon.co.uk: Simon Barnes, Peter Partington: 9781904977377: Books

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"A witty, perceptive book, thoughtful, instructive and full of simple wisdom." Daily Mail "A delightful ode to the wild world outside the kitchen window... A book which fills you with that warm feeling that a shared love conquers all." Daily Telegraph"

Product Description

Few books are more intimidating than a conventional field guide. There are simply too many birds in them. This book introduces the reader to Britain's most obvious birds. But it does more than that: it also explains them. It explains the way that different birds do different things, eat different food, sing different songs and live different lives, and it explains why they are different. If you are a would-be birdwatcher but don't know where to start, A Bad Field Guide is for you. It will help you understand birdwatching: but far more important, it will help you begin to understand birds. Robin...But have you ever wondered what a red breast means to a robin? A red breast is not just the way a human can recognise a robin when it comes a-calling, when it sits on a spade or a Christmas card. The red breast is not just a bit of chance colouration. No: the red breast is the core of the robin's being. The red breast is the love, the honour and the glory of a robin. Have you noticed that a robin positively flaunts it? It is as if he is telling the world: for God's sake, I'm a robin!

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, 17 Nov 2005

By

Mr David Tanner - See all my reviews

This review is from: A bad birdwatcher's companion...or a personal introduction to Britain's 50 most obvious birds (Hardcover)

This book is brilliant. The pen pictures of the 50 (and a few more) birds describing their habits, observation tips etc are accurate and very witty. It is an ideal companion to the first book but also has its own value as a stand alone book for those who haven't read the first one. For those who are confirmed bad birdwatchers its an ideal present for those who don't yet share or appreciate your enthusiasm. The environmental/conservation slant in the book is well judged - not too strident but makes the point well.
I'd recommend it to anybody.

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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, 11 Jan 2006

By

R. A. Watson "richbabe" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: A bad birdwatcher's companion...or a personal introduction to Britain's 50 most obvious birds (Hardcover)

After Christmas a year ago, I struggled to find something worthy of the book
token I'd been given, till I chanced on "How to be a bad birdwatcher". It
caught my attention immediately for the way the author approaches the
subject. For someone like myself who has a passing interest in a lot of
subjects, it appeals to my mentality marvellously.

In a similar situation again this year I spotted a familiar style of
cover - "The bad birdwatcher's companion", of course. I was initially
discouraged by a book describing such everyday birds as the Robin and
Sparrow, until I read a few extracts. That was it - I just had to buy a
copy. All other books have been set aside until I've read this, start to
finish.

Congratulations to the author on a splendid couple of works. They
do to me just what I guess was intended - get me excited about the topic. If
only the traditionally stuffy style of a lot of British publications were
written instead, in this easy manner, they'd be a lot more digestible.

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62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great aid to 'bad' birdwatching, 16 Oct 2005

By

Badbirder (Staines, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A bad birdwatcher's companion...or a personal introduction to Britain's 50 most obvious birds (Hardcover)

This is destined to become a classic. Barnes introduces the fifty most 'obvious' birds in the UK. Each brief chapter gives a knowledgeable overview of a bird; not only where they're found and what they look and sound like but how to actually spot them. His tips and insights on technique and approaches to see them are about an attitude of mind; ways of getting your 'eye in'.... and it really does work. In the walks I've taken in the few days that I've had the book I've spotted loads more stuff. It almost has a talismanic quality. I read the chapter on the Sparrow Hawk and thought - well that's one I'll need luck and time for. The very next day I was out in the garden and saw one high up (I would have seen it anyway but now I recognised it) and I was ready to watch the following attack on the pigeons! So its a practical guide that works.

Better than that is the fact that it's a hugely enjoyable read, written in the romp along style that has made Barnes a star sports writer. His passion and enthusiasm really shine through. I'm sure that even 'good' birdwatchers', those who make lists and stuff, will enjoy reading it and no doubt learn a thing or two.

So if you're even remotely interested in birds and want to know a bit more this comes highly recommended. If you're like me you can expect some pleasant surprises as a consequence of picking it up. And I haven't even got 'How to be a bad birdwatcher' yet...

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect
the book arrived promptly, and just as ordered. A really lovely alternative to the usual Bird ID book.Nice illustrations. makes a lovely present.

Published 1 month ago by lesley

4.0 out of 5 stars Amiable and Informative
This CD set provides the listener with fascinating facts and identification hints for 50 British birds. These are backed up with recordings of calls and songs. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Claire King

5.0 out of 5 stars A find
This is my favourite audio cd. The author has a relaxed style but there is no disguising the enthusiasm and knowledge that he brings to the subject. Read more