Product Description

Simon Barnes is one of Britain's leading bird writers and humorists. His weekly column in The Times, his essays for the RSPB magazine and his two books on bad bird-watching have made him one of the characters of the bird world. Here he reads his own illuminating introductions to the 50 main birds of Britain, supported by the distinguishing bird song of each species. He not only gives helpful identifying features, but enriches them with whimsical observations on their characters and tendencies. It is a delightful audiobook, superbly presented by the author himself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113749 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 281 pages

Customer Reviews

Highly Recommended
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.

EXCELLENT
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.

A great aid to 'bad' birdwatching
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...