The Birdwatcher

Police Sergeant William South has a good reason to shy away from murder investigations: he is a murderer himself. A methodical, diligent, and exceptionally bright detective, South is an avid birdwatcher and trusted figure in his small town on the rugged Kentish coast. He also lives with the deeply buried secret that, as a child in Northern Ireland, he may have killed a man. When a fellow birdwatcher is found murdered in his remote home, South's world flips. The culprit seems to be a drifter from South's childhood; the victim was the only person connecting South to his early crime; and a troubled, vivacious new female sergeant has been relocated from London and assigned to work with South. As our hero investigates, he must work ever-harder to keep his own connections to the victim, and his past, a secret. The Birdwatcher is British crime fiction at its finest; a stirring portrait of flawed, vulnerable investigators; a meticulously constructed mystery; and a primal story of fear, loyalty and vengeance. **Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year

THE BESTSELLING BIRDWATCHING CLASSIC - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 'A delightful ode to the wild world outside the kitchen window - leaves you with the warm feeling that a shared love conquers all.' The Daily Telegraph 'A witty, perceptive book; thoughtful, instructive and full of simple wisdom.' The Daily Mail Look out the window. See a bird. Enjoy it. CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a bad birdwatcher. Anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky or stared out of the window knows something about birds. In this fun, eye-opening and inspiring book, award-winning nature writer Simon Barnes paints a riveting picture of how birdwatching has framed his life and can help us all to a better understanding of our place on this planet. How to be a Bad Birdwatcher shows why birdwatching is not the preserve of twitchers, but one of the simplest, cheapest and most rewarding pastimes around.

Fact-filled book with sticker images of blue jay, American crow, mourning dove, barn owl, and 44 other birds, plus informative text noting bird's size, habitat, eating habits, and other data.

[2015 Reprint] Roger Tory Peterson—the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds—also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature. This self-proclaimed “student of nature” combined spectacular writing with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation. Birdwatcher is a comprehensive, illustrated biography of Roger Tory Peterson--a hero in the conservation world--including interviews with friends, family, and protégés.

Learn the how’s and why’s of bird behavior, from flirtatious mating practices and gorgeous birdsong to flying south for the winter. In this lively reference book, Laura Erickson addresses hundreds of real-life questions sent in to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the world’s foremost authority on birds. With expert advice on bird watching techniques and equipment, feeding and housing birds, protecting habitats, and much more, Erickson guides you through the intricacies of the avian world with a contagious passion for our feathered friends.

The author defines more than 1100 words and terms in this illustrated dictionary for the birdwatcher. Its attraction for the relative novice is obvious but it is equally directed to experienced birdwatchers who will find succinct definitions of terms that are new to them and of others that they have understood none too well. Whatever the user's ornithological expertise the book will expand or confirm his or her knowledge and offer at the same time an absorbing and entertaining browse, as a good dictionary should. Among the appendices is a full list of species on the British and Irish List arranged in 'Voous Order' and with categories of status in Britain and Ireland

Thirty full-page illustrations of U.S. and Canadian species include an oriole perched in a tree and a bald eagle diving for fish. Captions identify where species nest.

This is the first site-specific birding book written especially for the casual or novice birder. It is a fully illustrated look at more than 60 top birding sites on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Every spot described offers something special: forest-dwelling birds unique to Hawaii, seabirds that rarely visit the shore, or introduced birds found in city parks and gardens. Birds of greatest interest and those most likely to be seen at each site are given particular attention, with information on seasonal occurrences to help visitors plan their birding trips. Site descriptions note activities and nearby points of interest, detailed directions to the sites, and available facilities for visitors. Helpful occurrence tables show at a glance where common and uncommon birds can be found. General information on birding in Hawaii, a description of the processes that led to extensive speciation, and a review of the threats against Hawaiian birdlife are included.