Top 100 Birding Sites of the World

Too many places, too little time, too little money! That’s the challenge facing us when we think of the many countries we could travel to, simply to watch birds. Recently, I looked at a bird tour operator’s brochure and catalogued all the trips I would really like to take over the next 20 years. The list covered 40 destinations at a cost of almost £170,000. So at 35p per location, this book is a great alternative!

Take any group of birders and their choices for the top 100 birding locations will be different, and the author recognises that his decisions will create debate. The book is divided into geographical regions, within which each site is described in about 1,000 words of text, impressive photographs and a small map.

Most of us simply don’t have the time, money, dedication or good health to travel the globe, so I thought I’d discuss the 17 cheaper, European suggestions, so you can get a feel for what is recommended.

In Britain, who could argue with North Norfolk? The Outer Hebrides are also included, but I think I’d have gone for the Shetlands. France has three top sites – the Camargue is certainly fantastic, as is Organbidexka Col Libre in the Pyrenees, while the Lac du Der-Chantecoq region is the place to see wintering Common Cranes and White-tailed Eagles. Spain gets two sites – the Coto Doñana and Extremadura – but I’d have included the Ebro Delta in Catalonia. Other good choices are the Po Delta (Italy), Falsterbo (Sweden) and Bialowieza Forest (Poland). However, there are a few that I find surprising: Lake Mývatn in Iceland didn’t excite me when I visited, and I wonder if the sites in Estonia and Slovakia are good enough for the top 100.

The choices made for the rest of the world are very sensible, though within Asia, I would have included Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, the Tibetan Plateau and maybe Khao Yai or Doi Inthanon in Thailand. In Africa, Mount Kupe in Cameroon ought to have featured. The Middle East deserves its own category, and I’d have added Yemen and Socotra. In North America, why not part of Alaska?

Overall, the book succeeds – not only does it inform and delight, but it also makes you think about the choices and join the debate. About five years ago I had an idle plan to write a similar book. I’m kicking myself that I never developed the idea, but had I done so I would have been proud to have produced something as attractive as this.