Different takes on Norfolk, birding’s best county
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When a county site guide runs to its third edition in just 11 years it says a lot for its reputation, as well as the popularity of the county it covers. But does Neil Glenn’s latest update to his Best Birdwatching Sites: Norfolk guide really improve significantly on the two previous versions?
As in earlier editions, the introductory sections cover such subjects as why Norfolk is the top county for birdwatching and a month-by-month account of the birding year.
The bulk of the book’s 272 pages describe 85 birding locations in Norfolk, of which nine are new. Information is attractively laid out in a standard format, covering target birds and other possible species, useful background information, birding tips, site-specific points (access, facilities and so on) and, importantly, how to get there. This last section includes a site map, detailed road directions and the post code and GPS co-ordinates.
Finally, the current Norfolk list is included, although this has a few errors, such as a mis-spelling of Marmora’s Warbler, capitalisation of the specific scientific names of Northern Wheatear and Common Redstart, and the incorrect generic name for Marsh and Willow Tits.
Although the author claims to have visited every site in 2012 and 2013, he doesn’t appear to have updated the site information, at least not for the areas I know well. For instance, Mandarin Duck is not resident at Felbrigg Lake, Black-headed Gulls haven’t bred at Kelling Water Meadows since 2009 and Arctic Tern is certainly not guaranteed offshore at Weybourne. Despite these minor quibbles, this remains an excellent guide for visitors to Norfolk, but is not significantly better than the second edition.
Importantly, how does it compare with the completely new Norfolk Wildlife: a Calendar and Site Guide? Increasing numbers of birders are now interested in other fields of natural history, and this title is directed at them. The overall impression is of an attractively produced, well-researched book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It is illustrated throughout with colour photographs varying in quality from excellent, sharp shots to rather ‘noisy’ digital images.
The first part is devoted to the wildlife calendar, divided into seasons or months, depending on the variety of species likely to be encountered. The bulk of each section covers birds, but as the year progresses increasing space is given to butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, ‘other animals’, orchids and scarcer flowers.
The second part covers 35 wildlife sites that are recommended by the author, including lesser-known ones like Scarning Fen and New Buckenham Common. After a general introduction to the site, details follow regarding habitats, access and any restrictions, facilities, length of walk and the degree of difficulty, recommended equipment and clothing, and the wildlife that may be encountered. Each site concludes with contact details and nearby locations of interest, including additional places not otherwise described in the book. There is one county map showing the locations of the 35 main sites, but no other maps are included. Finally, checklists and monthly tables, showing optimum viewing times for the wildlife groups, appear at the end.
Almost inevitably, the book contains a number of errors and typos, the more obvious being the claim that 200 species of birds can be seen in January and the incorrect spelling of Morston throughout the book, while the photo captioned as Sooty Shearwater depicts a Balearic Shearwater. On certain pages there has also been a problem with the printing of the main text, which has a green or purple tint.
Overall, however, despite the rather high price, I think that this is a very useful addition to the county literature, and it will be invaluable to first-time visitors to Norfolk who have a general interest in natural history.
• Best Birdwatching Sites: Norfolk by Neil Glenn (third edition, Buckingham Press, Peterborough, 2013).
• 272 pages, numerous maps.
• ISBN 9780956987648. Pbk, £17.95. Birdwatch Bookshop from £15.95.
• Norfolk Wildlife: a Calendar and Site Guide by Adrian M Riley (Brambleby Books, East Hyde, 2013).
• 300 pages, colour photographs.
• ISBN 9781908241047. Pbk, £25. Birdwatch Bookshop from £23.
As in earlier editions, the introductory sections cover such subjects as why Norfolk is the top county for birdwatching and a month-by-month account of the birding year.
The bulk of the book’s 272 pages describe 85 birding locations in Norfolk, of which nine are new. Information is attractively laid out in a standard format, covering target birds and other possible species, useful background information, birding tips, site-specific points (access, facilities and so on) and, importantly, how to get there. This last section includes a site map, detailed road directions and the post code and GPS co-ordinates.
Finally, the current Norfolk list is included, although this has a few errors, such as a mis-spelling of Marmora’s Warbler, capitalisation of the specific scientific names of Northern Wheatear and Common Redstart, and the incorrect generic name for Marsh and Willow Tits.
Although the author claims to have visited every site in 2012 and 2013, he doesn’t appear to have updated the site information, at least not for the areas I know well. For instance, Mandarin Duck is not resident at Felbrigg Lake, Black-headed Gulls haven’t bred at Kelling Water Meadows since 2009 and Arctic Tern is certainly not guaranteed offshore at Weybourne. Despite these minor quibbles, this remains an excellent guide for visitors to Norfolk, but is not significantly better than the second edition.
Importantly, how does it compare with the completely new Norfolk Wildlife: a Calendar and Site Guide? Increasing numbers of birders are now interested in other fields of natural history, and this title is directed at them. The overall impression is of an attractively produced, well-researched book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It is illustrated throughout with colour photographs varying in quality from excellent, sharp shots to rather ‘noisy’ digital images.
The first part is devoted to the wildlife calendar, divided into seasons or months, depending on the variety of species likely to be encountered. The bulk of each section covers birds, but as the year progresses increasing space is given to butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, ‘other animals’, orchids and scarcer flowers.
The second part covers 35 wildlife sites that are recommended by the author, including lesser-known ones like Scarning Fen and New Buckenham Common. After a general introduction to the site, details follow regarding habitats, access and any restrictions, facilities, length of walk and the degree of difficulty, recommended equipment and clothing, and the wildlife that may be encountered. Each site concludes with contact details and nearby locations of interest, including additional places not otherwise described in the book. There is one county map showing the locations of the 35 main sites, but no other maps are included. Finally, checklists and monthly tables, showing optimum viewing times for the wildlife groups, appear at the end.
Almost inevitably, the book contains a number of errors and typos, the more obvious being the claim that 200 species of birds can be seen in January and the incorrect spelling of Morston throughout the book, while the photo captioned as Sooty Shearwater depicts a Balearic Shearwater. On certain pages there has also been a problem with the printing of the main text, which has a green or purple tint.
Overall, however, despite the rather high price, I think that this is a very useful addition to the county literature, and it will be invaluable to first-time visitors to Norfolk who have a general interest in natural history.
• Best Birdwatching Sites: Norfolk by Neil Glenn (third edition, Buckingham Press, Peterborough, 2013).
• 272 pages, numerous maps.
• ISBN 9780956987648. Pbk, £17.95. Birdwatch Bookshop from £15.95.
• Norfolk Wildlife: a Calendar and Site Guide by Adrian M Riley (Brambleby Books, East Hyde, 2013).
• 300 pages, colour photographs.
• ISBN 9781908241047. Pbk, £25. Birdwatch Bookshop from £23.
