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From: jhiggott@dumbo.axion.bt.co.uk (jeff higgott)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Some new European field guides: reactions?
Message-ID: <1990Sep3.090828.10317@axion.bt.co.uk>
Date: 3 Sep 90 09:08:28 GMT
References: <129704@kean.ucs.mun.ca> <1990Aug31.115838.27128@axion.bt.co.uk> <130839@kean.ucs.mun.ca>
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In article <130839@kean.ucs.mun.ca>, dgraham@kean.ucs.mun.ca (David Graham)
writes:

|> Thanks, Jeff, you just saved me some money! I guess I'll look for the 
|> Hamlyn photographic guide instead...

I wouldn't buy only the photographic guide.  I believe that a photographic
guide should complement a traditional field guide.  There are many things that
photographs do not show - how many birds can you get to pose facing left to 
right in perfect light?  On the other hand, paintings can show a bird's 
plumage accurately but often do not capture the character.  Photos also can
be extremely unjizzy.  The pictures in the Hamlyn Guide I feel are on the whole
a very good selection (and at several thousand colour photos for \pounds 15
is excellent VFM).

Don't dismiss the Kinfisher and Jizz guides without giving them a look, they 
may be what you are looking for.  But do look past the pictures to see what
more they offer.  I would consider the following guides:
  - The Shell Guide - now 7 years old but covers all British regular birds and
         vagrants (up to 1980).  Not without its errors, but the most useful
         text - and some very good paintings of every conceivable plumage
         (almost). ****
  - Macmillan Guide - State of the Art in ID.  Covers confusable groups of 
         species (eg eclipse ducks; Harriers; Locustella warblers...).  You   
won't find Avocet or Chaffinch in here so if you want a guide to all
         the species don't buy this.  A fairly advanced guide with excellent
         plates from the late Laurel Tucker and Alan Harris.  Expensive for 
         a small book at \pounds 15, but I think it is worth it. *****
  - Collins Guide (Europe, North Africa and Middle East). Now quite an old book
         but shows lots of species.  Pictures not bad, text OK. ***
  - Country Life Guide (Europe). Text the same as the
         Hamlyn photographic guide (good).   The old plates distinctly lack   
jizz but the waders, gulls, terns and raptors have been repainted and 
         are a great improvement. ***

 Does anybody else have any opinions on British/European field guides?
   
* Jeff Higgott 
*                                                                           *
* "I bought some batteries but they weren't included"