Book Review - Europe's Alpine Flowers: A Field Guide - Princeton University Press WILDGuides

 

     As best I can tell, 48 titles have been published in the WildGuides series of books, dating back to 2013; their unifying feature is quality! The topics are wide and varied, the commitment to excellence unique.

     The book I now have next to me on my desk  exemplifies this character in spades. By taking full advantage of improved publishing and printing techniques, by harnessing and consolidating the efforts of all collaborators, by having access to a library of photographs hitherto unrivalled, and by a principled commitment to publishing at the highest level, Europe's Alpine Flowers sets an already high bar even higher. 

     It is a matter of great sadness that Bob Gibson, as enigmatic and obsessive a naturalist as ever searched for a flower, did not live to see the book published. Over-the-top oratory, especially in praise of those no longer with us, comes easy, but in Bob's case every accolade is warranted, and is perhaps not enough. He was a remarkable man and it is not banal to say that we will not soon see his like again.

     Peter Marren and Richard Mabey contribute a moving tribute to their friend and colleague. We learn a great deal about Bob through their sensitive words. To some extent, this book will be a monument to him.

     Now to the book itself!

     It has become standard treatment in WildGuides that each page is embellished with a stunning array of colour photographs. This work is no exception.

      Many pictures are Bob's own, others from dedicated botanists enthralled with the rich variety of alpine flowers they love so much. I would venture to say that few sights in nature are more glorious than an alpine meadow in bloom.

      A section entitled, "Where to see alpine flowers" furnishes a list, country by country, mountain range by mountain range, a veritable inducement to travel to experience the wonder with one's own eyes. I am vividly reminded of time that I have spent in such environments and the pleasure it has brought me. Bob not only studied the flowers, he was very attuned to the inter-relationship between the plants and other organisms whose lives are intertwined with them. 

     There is an exposition of alpine habitats, delineating the characteristics of each type. Knowing habitat is foundational to any study of nature, of course.

     The glossary is first class and follows what seems to be a trend by positioning it at the front of the book rather than at the end, as has traditionally been the case.

     The accounts of individual plants, grouped within families, is exhaustive. The accounts, accompanied by a picture, are brief yet complete, covering details of the plant, its elevation, soil preferences, flowering period, and the countries where it may be found. 

     Perhaps I may be permitted the liberty of ending with a personal anecdote. Many years ago, on a visit to northern California, I had the pleasure of meeting Rich Stallcup, a bit of a legend in the birding community there. Upon inquiring of people what they had seen, and receiving a dismissive reply, such as, "Just a few robins," Stallcup would say, "Sure, you've seen lots of robins, but have you ever seen THAT robin."

     I think that Bob Gibbons might have replied in similar fashion about an Edelweiss. "Have you ever seen THAT Edelweiss." 

     It's a great lesson for us all.

Europe's Alpine Wildflowers: A Field Guide - Princeton University Press WILDGuides

Paperback - US$29.95, £25.00 - ISBN 9780691230788

496 pages - 5.88 x 8.25 inches (14.69 x 20.625 cm)

Publishing date: U.S.A - 02 September, 2025

                            UK - 24 June, 2025

Book Review - Wildlife of the Eastern Caribbean - Princeton University Press

      I admit to being ignorant of the authors of this book until now, (I assume they are a husband and wife team), but they have impressed me with this volume. What a grand idea to publish a guide covering the full scope of the wildlife of the Eastern Caribbean. To compress all of the organisms into one volume is brilliant both in concept and execution, and the book is still not unreasonably large or heavy.

     It is apparent from the get-go that the Hollidays have a deep understanding of this area of the world, and we benefit from their accumulated knowledge and experience. I have visited this region several times over many years, and would have benefitted greatly had this guide been my companion.

     The only guide I ever had was the first edition of Birds of the West Indies, a classic in its own right, but dealing only with birds, of course. Princeton published a magnificent second edition in 2020, updated and enhanced in myriad ways - but still only birds. 

     Now, in one volume I have an excellent reference to many other forms of wildlife - reptiles, amphibians, mammals, arthropods, insects, dragonflies and damselflies, butterflies and moths, and even land snails.

     The photographs are glorious and the descriptions succinct and informative, containing all the information necessary to identify species in the wild. This, of course, is exactly what a good field guide should do. How pleasant it would have been in times past to have been birding on a beach in Barbados to have a ready reference to the crabs that scurried along the sand ahead of me, or that snake in Martinique that slithered away unidentified.

     More people watch birds than any other form of wildlife, but every birder develops an abiding curiosity about other lifeforms, and in the same way that he or she is driven to attach a name to the bird in the binocular field, there develops an imperative to identify and name other organisms. Therein lies the essence of natural history, a curiosity for all living things, the drive to name them, and the need to know more.

     I am very happy to have this book. My Caribbean explorations in recent years have been in the western islands, particularly Cuba, but I feel a surge of wanderlust urging me to once again visit the eastern archipelago.

     Rest assured this book will go with me!

     

Wildlife of the Eastern Caribbean - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

Steve Holliday and Gill Holliday

US$29.95 - UK£25.00 - ISBN: 9780691199818

320 pages - 5.88 x 8.25 inches (14.7 x 20.625 cm)

750+ colour illustrations

Publishing date: 01 July, 2025

Book Review - Trees of Britain and Ireland - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

 

     As the daily news continues to remind us that we have already entered an era of global warming, and some retrograde governments around the world are actually promoting a return to fossil fuels, a book on trees is especially timely. Trees are important in carbon capture and the provision of oxygen, yet we continue to cut them down without regard for the future, and as the planet heats up wildfires of increased ferocity and duration consume ancient forests and woodlands. It's past time to come to our senses.

     This delightful book is remarkable from many angles. It identifies and describes 113 British and Irish native trees, in addition to another 190 introduced species and hybrids. Each account is accompanied by a phenomenal series of colour photographs - a visual entrancement in every way.

     There is a delicious irony in that there are descriptions of familiar North American trees making this volume a very good reference source for the trees we see at home.

     The species coverage is terrific with many colour photographs (3,000 of them, in fact) to highlight and beautify the text. 

     In addition to the descriptions of individual trees there are extensive sections on leaves, cones, buds, fruit, winter twigs, flowers, predatory insects, fungi,  parasites- a complete picture of what makes a tree a tree, and what you need to know to identify them at all seasons of the year.

     Knowing is loving, and loving leads to nurture and protection. Or so we might hope. Reality is sometimes a cruel teacher, however!

     I have for years been a keen admirer of Oliver Rackham, that erstwhile doyen of English forests, and I have little doubt that he would have been mightily pleased with this volume.

       He might even have learned from it, he perhaps would have been validated by it, his praise would have been effusive. The pictures alone would have set off his salivary glands and in his own inimitable way he would have touted its virtues to arborists and tree devotees everywhere.

     In my world there is no greater praise than that. 

     Bravo, Jon Stokes, for a job well done! 

Tree of Britain and Ireland - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

Jon Stokes

US$24.95 - UK£20.00 - ISBN: 9780691224169

360 pages - 5.88 x 8.25 inches (14.7 x 20.625 cm)

3,000 colour photographs - 270 illustrations

Publication date: USA, 04 June, 2025

                             UK, 22 April, 2025

Book Review - Teesdale's Special Flora: Places, plants and people - Princeton University Press - WILDGuides

 

     This is a very special book. Not only is it a compendium of the diverse and wondrous flora of Teesdale, its pages are permeated with the deep love, devotion and dedication of one individual to a uniquely beautiful, biologically diverse place. For more than seventy remarkable years Margaret Bradshaw has toiled on behalf of Teesdale, and she is an inspiration to every naturalist who has ever laboured valiantly and thought of giving up. Don't!

     You may not be familiar with Teesdale; many of us aren't, but the message of this book is universal, and no matter where your special patch of nature is, there are lessons to be learned from the tenacity of one committed individual. So much can be accomplished, as she proves time and time again. Even faced with the rapacious grasp of industry, single-minded in its pursuit of profit, resulting in the loss of vital components of Teesdale for the construction of a dam, Bradshaw remained strong in her advocacy for the preservation of biodiversity. She has worked tirelessly and cooperatively to accomplish her goals.

     

      Pristine habitat, allowed to thrive as nature intended, serves not only to protect rare species such as the spectacular Spring Gentian, but provides habitat for a wide range of native fauna, including birds, butterflies, odenates and others. 

     The book covers Teesdale in a most comprehensive fashion taking into account its human history, geology, climate, flora, fauna, and makes projections about its future and the steps that will need to be taken to safeguard it. 

     Furthermore, there are detailed accounts of 96 plants that make up the Teesdale Assemblage. Each account covers the plant itself, its distribution, habitat, and status and conservation. 

     If ever you find yourself in Teesdale this will consitute an excellent guide to its botanical riches.

     There is a comprehensive list of references for those inclined to further study, and an excellent glossary.

     Margaret Bradshaw leaves us with an impassioned plea.

"It is our Heritage, this unique assemblage of plant species, mine and yours.

In spite of trying, I have failed to prevent its decline, now it is up to you. You, who will inherit less than I started with, as I inherited less than Isaac Tarn before me. It is for you, readers of this book, and all to care for the the survival of Teesdale's Special Flora, to ensure that your children and theirs do not inherit less.

Please do not let then down."

     This is a message for all of us who struggle daily to protect biodiversity in our own backyard. Let us not flag nor fail; what is at stake is no less than the future of the world as we know it.

Teesdale's Special Flora: Places, Plants and People - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

Margaret E. Bradshaw

Paperback - US$17.95 - ISBN: 9780691251332

288 pages - 5.875 x 8.25 inches (14.69 x 20.63 cm)

More than 330 photographs

Publication date: 06 June, 2023

     

Book Review - Edible Fungi of Britain and Northern Europe - Princeton University Press - WILDGuides

 

     Foraging for wild foods is at times controversial, and can be damaging if not done properly, so any book that provides guidelines on how to do it correctly is welcome. This is a very user-friendly book that does exactly that, and it behooves every forager to read it, and practice the techniques needed to ensure that the resource is harvested in a sustainable manner. It also highlights the need to forage only where it is legal, is permitted and to respect the boundaries of private property. 

      Foraging is best done singly, or with a couple of friends; large groups exacerbate the potential to damage fragile ecosystems, but one does see foraging parties where people pay a "leader" to take them out in the woods to find mushrooms. High-end restaurants are willing to pay handsomely for wild mushrooms, and the prospect of financial gain often outweighs the conscience of the individual foraging.

     Fungi may be found almost anywhere and there is a useful section on the types of mushrooms to be found in different habitats. A critical word of caution, it seems to me is, "And when collecting anything for consumption, you should always have a mind to the fact that dogs will do what dogs do!"

     This book is about edible mushrooms so it is more than a little useful to also correctly identify those that are poisonous.  Few species are fatal, but many can make you very sick, a situation to be avoided at all cost. A delightful section covers the cooking of mushrooms - very helpful indeed and accompanied by glorious full colour images of dishes to fire up the appetite. Mushrooms may be stored, principally by drying and this is covered too.

     An extensive section covers the various species of mushroom to be found in Britain and Northern Europe, their habitat, seasonality and tips for harvesting and cooking. Some mushrooms can safely be eaten raw; in other cases it is essential to cook them well before consumption. 

     The book is well laid out from start to finish and is a very easy read. Every page has excellent full colour illustrations to complement an informative text. It has the potential to become the forager's handbook - the only one you might ever need.

Edible Fungi of Britain and Northern Europe: How to Identify, Collect and Prepare - Princeton University Press - WILDGuides

Author: Jens H. Petersen

Hardcover - US$22.95 - ISBN: 9780691245195

160 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)

429 Colour and 45 black-and-white illustrations

Publication Date: 25 April, 2023

Book Review - Japan - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

      Mark Brazil's name has come to be associated with the ornithology of Asia, and I have benefitted greatly from his previous works, Birds of East Asia and Birds of Japan. Brazil now resides in Hokkaido and is well qualified to write this wonderful account of the natural history of the Japanese archipelago, which stretches for more than 3,000 km from the subarctic barrens at the northern tip of Hokkaido, to the subtropical zones of the outer islands in the south.

Book Review - Europe's Birds - WILDGuides - Princeton University Press

 

     One develops an expectation that WILDGuides will produce consistently high quality field guides, and in keeping with that tradition Europe's Birds does not disappoint.

Book Review - Britain's Insects - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world's ecosystems would collapse.

Sir David Attenborough

 

     If I were living in Britain this excellent field guide would have a permanent place in my car so as to be handy at all times. I have no doubt that it would quickly become dog-eared and dirty, sullied and stained, but well used and highly valued.

     It is an absolutely first rate guide by any standard.

     Let me first of all give a shoutout to the author, Paul D. Brock. Brock is a renowned entomologist and a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum, London. (If ever you visit London allow a couple of days for this museum). He is the author of many books about insects and has had the supreme honour, for a naturalist, of having several species named after him.

     There is a brief, but adequate introduction, to insects, with all of the salient details one needs to know, including tips on how to photograph these ubiquitous, but often elusive creatures. An excellent glossary is of great help.

     If your primary interest is in birds or mammals you will be struck by the fact of the many stages insects go through to become an adult. Once a bird's egg hatches, a bird is a bird, some precocial species even being perfect little replicas of their parents, and many mammals, large herbivores being classic examples, are born ready to run. Not so with an insect. A butterfly goes from egg to caterpillar, and even then through several instars, to a chrysalis, before emerging as an adult insect. A caterpillar bears no resemblance at all to the butterfly it is going to become. Caddisflies and mayflies begin their lives underwater, wasp larvae feed on the paralyzed bodies of other insects - early stages of development provide few clues as to the adult form.

     But surely, that is part of the fun of learning about invertebrates. For me, my initial interest in insects was trying to identify the species that comprised food for birds. Be warned, once the fascination begins, there is no end to it!

     From page 34 onwards every order of insects found in Britain, and all the families are covered in exquisite detail with an incredible array of coloured photographs, illustrations and maps. It is to be remembered that many of these organisms, especially the intermediate stages, are extremely difficult to photograph, and it is a testament to the dogged determination of Paul Brock, and the many other photographers who permitted their pictures to be included, that we have such detailed and complete coverage. 

     This guide will serve you as well as any that I can think of. It will be an invaluable tool in furthering your interest in, and knowledge of, the creatures who form the underpinnings of our very existence, and you will be much the richer for owning it.

Britain's Insects - Princeton University Press

Author: Paul D. Brock

US$32.50, £25.00 - ISBN: 9780691179278

Published: USA 13 July 2021

                UK 8 June 2021

608 pages - 2,600 colour photographs, 1476 colour illustrations

5.87 x 8.25 inches (14.675 x 20.625 cm)   

 

Book Review - Flight Identification of European Passerines and Select Landbirds - Princeton University Press/WILDGuides

 

Identifying small songbirds in flight at a quarter mile is possible if you truly desire to do so.

David Sibley

     This is a book that merits superlatives from the first page onwards. It really is a magnum opus, with heavy emphasis on the magnum.

     Every novice birder knows the frustration of seeking a new species, being in the right habitat, only to see a bird fly by at top speed, and being unable to identify it. The sense of frustration may be magnified when more experienced birders call the bird with confidence. 

     Indeed, there is no greater skill to be learned (in tandem with recognizing birdsong I might add) than that of identifying a bird from its JIZZ. And it can be done. Indeed, it must be done if you going to fully enjoy the art, science and sublime pleasure of birding.

     With practice, discipline, and by paying close attention to fundamentals, you can identify a songbird in flight with the same level of confidence that you recognize a friend at a distance, long before facial features are apparent. This is not to say that it is always easy, but nothing worthwhile in life is achieved without effort.

     Tomasz Cofta is probably not a household name for many, but he is in fact a seasoned ornithologist with a reputation that is hard to beat. Over a span of forty years the author has invested more than 3,000 hours of systematic observation and counting of migratory birds in flight. Around 88,000 birds of 153 species have been examined in the hand. In addition 4,400 sound recordings have been made and interpreted as sonograms. Such is the calibre of your teacher in this book.

     I always urge readers to thoroughly read the introductory sections to field guides, and it is absolutely critical with this volume, in order to fully understand the process, learn the techniques and comprehend the scope of inter-related disciplines. The species accounts are of European passerines and select landbirds as the title says, but the methods used are applicable to birds throughout the world.

     The illustrations rank as superb for the most part, and even the few that are marginally substandard are nevertheless very acceptable. Anyone who has tried to capture a photograph of a swiftly flying songbird knows how difficult it is to achieve satisfying results. 

     Once in a while a book comes along that should occupy a place of honour on the shelf of anyone interested in birds at any level. This is one of those works. But don't let it just sit on the shelf, take it down often, take it in the field, study it and study it again. Every minute you spend with it will make you a better birder.

     And what could be more satisfying than that?

Flight Identification of European Passerines and Select Landbirds - Princeton University Press/WILDGuides of Britain & Europe

Author: Tomasz Cofta

Published: 11 May 2021 (USA)

                17 February 2021 (UK) 

Price: US$45.00, £38.00

ISBN: 9780691177571 - 496 pages - 850 coloured illustrations 

Size: 6.13 x 9.25 in., 16 x 24 cm  

Book Review - Britain's Habitats - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

 

      I have just reviewed two other guides in the WILDGuide series, one on butterflies and a second one on spiders, and for those organisms, as for all others, habitat is key. Put simply, they have to have a place  that provides food, shelter, cover and the conditions to breed successfully.

     The coverage of Britain's varied and diverse habitats in the current volume is nothing short of spectacular. This second edition, produced in collaboration with rewilding britain, states that it is fully revised and updated - a modest assertion if ever I saw one. 

     The introduction furnishes a succinct summary of Britain's natural habitats, with commentary on climate, topography and geography, and an examination of the numerous factors affecting habitat, including human impact and natural forces at work. There is an important section on the conservation of habitats, arguably one of the most pressing issues of our time. 

     I think that what sets this work apart from other studies of habitat, is the detailed breakdown of conditions which at first glance seem uniform, into a comprehensive examination of climatic and physical features within a given habitat, giving rise to significant differences that together constitute a biome. 

     For example - the vast swatches of heathland, primarily of Scotland and Wales, are broken down into Lowland Dry Heath, Lowland Wet Heath, Upland Dry Heath, and Upland Wet Heath. Full attention is paid to similarities and differences, comparison with like habitats, a discussion of the flora and fauna of each type, and notes on conservation.

     The photographs throughout the book - on every single page - are glorious, featuring not only the landscape, but images of iconic (and not so iconic) organisms found there. The maps are well done and give a visual overview of the extent of the habitat under discussion.

     At the end of each section there is a brief statement, both informative and slightly whimsical. After "Garden", a habitat familiar to most, take pleasure in the following: "Jennifer Owen, a zoologist who studied the wildlife in her modest suburban garden in Leicester over a 30-year period, recorded over 2,600 species of animals and plants including 20 insect species new to Britain). Oh what potential there exists for all of us!

     Enjoy this book, learn from it, get to know the wonderful regions of the British Isles, and above all cherish and protect them. There can be no better challenge ahead of you.

Britain's Habitats - Princeton University Press - WILDGuides

Authors: Sophie Lake, Durwyn Liley, Robert Still and Andy Swash

Paperback - US$32.50 - £25  -  ISBN:9780691203591

Published: 24 November 2020

416 pages - 700 colour photographs and maps - 5.88" x 8.25"

Book Review - Britain's Spiders - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

 

     

     Welcome to the second edition of a spider magnum opus!

     This is an impressive work, coming in at just under 500 pages of highly informative text, with a sensational collection of photographs, unparalleled in any prior work on arachnids. It is called a field guide, and is all of that, but goes much beyond the parameters of a conventional guide aimed only at field ID.

     The first 135 pages provide detailed notes on every salient spider fact - anatomy, life style, habitat, classification, appearance, frequency, conservation, and so on, before a page of species identification appears.

     I remember well, in times past, experiencing frustration at being unable to narrow down the identification of a spider to the species level, feeling somehow inadequate. I was relieved when I learned that I was doing well to get the family correct and extraordinarily well to pinpoint the genus. Many, many species, the majority in fact, may only be identified under a microscope by detailed examination of the genitalia. This point is made abundantly clear right from the outset, in the first page of the introduction.

      All of the preliminary information pertains to spiders the world over. The book is nominally devoted to the arachnids of Britain, but spiders with eight eyes in a row, for example, are anatomically the same whether in Britain, France or the Middle East, and you will benefit from a through study of the text.

     An excellent glossary occupies six pages and is of immense help in explaining technical terms, many of which are probably unfamiliar to any but a skilled entomologist specializing in spiders.

     When the book does get into the individual species section, the wealth of information and the photographs are comprehensive and stunning. A range map is included and notes on distribution/status. By carefully following tips on habitat and a description of the spider, chances for correct identification are measurably improved. 

     Important information is given concerning legislation and conservation, and a complete summary of all British spiders is provided with their status designation. Links to further reading and useful internet sites enable the reader to pursue other sources to expand their spider knowledge.

     The role of the British Arachnology Society is acknowledged; indeed their logo appears on the bottom right corner of the front cover.

     In the realm of texts about invertebrates, this book rises to a whole new level, combining science and field identification in ways made possible by digital photography, sophisticated scientific equipment, and the combined breadth of knowledge of three notable authors.

Britain's Spiders, A field guide - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

Authors: Lawrence Bee, Geoff Oxford and Helen Smith

Paperback - US$32.50 - £25 - ISBN 9780691204741

Published: 3 November 2020

496 pages - 700+ colour photographs - 5.88" x 8.25"  

Book Review - Britain's Butterflies - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides of Britain & Europe)

 

        

     One might be forgiven for thinking that WILDGuides have been around forever, and I would suspect that a survey of naturalists would reveal that many, if not most, have used one title or another at some stage in their lives. For many of us, old editions are dog-eared and battered, having served us well in the field, and continue to do so to this day.

     It is hard to believe that this is the fourth edition of the butterfly guide, and it is more complete than ever, filled with a stunning array of coloured photographs of every species known to occur in the British Isles.

     It is significant that the book was produced in cooperation with Butterfly Conservation, the leading UK organization involved in such matters. Such a synergistic relationship can only enhance the prospects for a serious attempt to restore endangered populations.

     This guide is really well done. It serves as an excellent reference for neophytes but fits equally well into the library of seasoned entomologists.

     The entire sequence of the butterfly life cycle is covered, with a remarkable collection of photographs depicting every stage from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. 

     A section is devoted to butterfly habitats with a series of pleasing images that represent typical landscapes where different species may most easily be found. Further, the foodplants of the various species receive serious attention, and I can't think of a better way to enhance one's chances of finding a target species than to know where and upon what it might be feeding.

     The glossary is well done, and the range maps that accompany each species account are easily understood, with an accompanying diagrammatic key to the period of the year when the different stages in the organism's life cycle may be observed.

     Links to further reading and to important internet sites are given, and there are notes on butterfly conservation and legislation.

     No guide today would be complete without a comment on the potential effects of climate change (some of which are already evident) and such is the case in Britain's Butterflies. One must hope that in the next edition one does not read of a litany of extinctions and species in peril. Surely we can come to our senses and embark on the long journey to reverse the deadly forces we have set in motion.

     One of the beneficial effects of restrictions on "normal" activities brought about by COVID-19 has been an increased awareness of nature. People confined to their backyards have begun to notice creatures they had formerly paid no attention to, chief among them gloriously coloured butterflies, floating like ephemeral fairies on a bright summer's day. Planting for wildlife is on the increase and suburbia is becoming ever more critter-friendly. 

     You too can make your garden friendly for butterflies. The authors hope you will.

Britain's Butterflies - Princeton University Press (WILDGuides)

Authors: David Newland, Robert Still, Andy Swash, David Tomlinson

Paperback - US$24.95 - £17.99 - ISBN: 9780691205441

Published: 3 November 2020

256 pages - 600+ colour photographs - 10 line illustrations

5.88" x 8.25"