Cockpit reference books - birds and mammals

[jon_bailey]

Can recommend some good reference books for identifying the creatures that we may see on our circumnavigation around the coast?

I am particularly keen to be able to identify whales, porpoises, seals ..... and the various sea birds we are likely to spot. Something that we can bring into the cockpit when the opportunity arises would be better than a reference tome that lives in the cabin.

Thanks

 

[Amulet]

Can recommend some good reference books for identifying the creatures that we may see on our circumnavigation around the coast?

I am particularly keen to be able to identify whales, porpoises, seals ..... and the various sea birds we are likely to spot. Something that we can bring into the cockpit when the opportunity arises would be better than a reference tome that lives in the cabin.

Thanks

"Birds of Britain and Ireland Pro" on your iPhone. Gives you all the birds and plays their calls. Maybe available for Android too - I don't know.

 

[Coaster]

I reckon that the Collins Bird Guide, ISBN 0 00 219728 6 (hardback) is the best general bird book. We have a copy that lives under the sprayhood for much of the time.

If you need the reference material to be waterproof a shallow clear plastic box of the right size, from Staples or similar, is just the ticket.

There's a jolly good book on cetaceans that we sometimes refer to but it's on the boat and I can't remember the title!

 

[doug748]

This is more of a reading/reference book than a cockpit guide but it might be worth a look. The Yachtsman's Naturalist:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtsmans-...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295431199&sr=1-2
A lovely old fashioned book with colour plates, etc.

 

[Sgeir]

iSpot - UK wildlife Wiki

OK, iSpot is not a cockpit reference guide, but a community driven database of UK flora and fauna submitted by online contributors - it operates in much the same way as the Wikipedia or Geograph projects.

As well as making knowledgeable photographic submissions, contributors may also seek help with identification. This should, I believe, be a very useful nature resource.

 

[jon_bailey]

I reckon that the Collins Bird Guide, ISBN 0 00 219728 6 (hardback) is the best general bird book. We have a copy that lives under the sprayhood for much of the time.

There's a jolly good book on cetaceans that we sometimes refer to but it's on the boat and I can't remember the title!

I have heard from others that Collins is good, so it's off to Amazon for that.

The title of the book on cetaceans would be very helpful after you next visit your boat.

 

[jon_bailey]

OK, iSpot is not a cockpit reference guide, but a community driven database of UK flora and fauna submitted by online contributors - it operates in much the same way as the Wikipedia or Geograph projects.

As well as making knowledgeable photographic submissions, contributors may also seek help with identification. This should, I believe, be a very useful nature resource.

Just looked at iSpot and it appears to be an interesting initiative, although it has some way to go before it matches Wikipedia. It sounds as though the iPhone App looks a better bet for use in the cockpit, although I think I still prefer a good book.

 

[sailorman]

Can recommend some good reference books for identifying the creatures that we may see on our circumnavigation around the coast?

I am particularly keen to be able to identify whales, porpoises, seals ..... and the various sea birds we are likely to spot. Something that we can bring into the cockpit when the opportunity arises would be better than a reference tome that lives in the cabin.

Thanks

we have
Collins Bird Guide
Kingfisher- Field Guide to the Birds of Gt Britain & Europe written by John Gooders

both are good & informative

 

[agurney]

"Country life Guide to the Seashore and Shallow Seas of Britain and Europe" A C Cqmpbell / James Nicholls is an excellent reference for anything marine. I don't know if it's still in print, but my 1984 version is still used regularly on the boat.

Collins Bird book as already mentioned.

If you are tight for space the Yachtsman's Naturalist covers everything, but not in the same detail as the others though it does cover seaside plants. I've ended up with all three on board.


Alisdair

 

[Lodesman77]

Coastal and Sea Birds Handbook [Spiral-bound] Duncan Brewer, Alan Harris ISBN: 1842363123