Reviews

meat of book is divided into chap- digestible than a typical scientific SEABIRDS: ters that consider taxonomy, distri- text. As well as summarising pre- A NATURAL HISTORY bution, foraging, migration, vious research it also highlights By Anthony J. Gaston. T & A D breeding and population some more novel ideas. For Poyser, A&C Black, London, dynamics. Discussion of these example, it had never occurred to 2004. 222 pages; 16 pages of topics is based on literature from me that one reason that many Pro- colour plates; maps, figures, peer-reviewed journals, while they cellariiformes produce stomach oil tables, line-drawings, black- are also illustrated with both is that whole food carried in the and-white photographs. colour and black-and-white pho- proventriculus (alimentary canal) ISBN 0-7136-6568-8. tographs, as well as tables and during long foraging bouts will Hardback, £35.00. figures. These chapters reveal much decompose. The preservative quality about the interaction between of stomach oil has not been studied Seabird ecologists are an odd seabirds and the marine environ- but by highlighting such gaps in our group of people. Their subjects ment and also explore how charac- knowledge, further research may be might require them to huddle atop teristic life-history strategies may generated. cold, wet cliff-tops, grovel in foul- have evolved. I did have one very minor smelling, guano-filled caves or A number of seabird ecology quibble. Although generally cited spend weeks lurching sickeningly texts exist already, so why does this throughout, not all statements are aboard a ship miles from land, yet book deserve a place in our already fully qualified by references from typically they retain an almost crowded bookcases? Initially, I peer-reviewed literature. The obsessive passion for their work. assumed that this was a scientific author explains that this was to During the past 30 years, Tony text, the author having such an save space, although I felt that a Gaston has developed and main- impressive publication record in the more detailed list of citations tained such a drive, and this is very scientific literature, but the emphasis would have been valuable to much in evidence in this excellent is, as the title suggests, on natural readers wishing to pursue further book on the natural history of history, which is what really sepa- research, while detracting little seabirds. rates this from previous works. I from those who do not. Despite The book provides a detailed found Gaston’s writing style read- this, I would recommend this book synthesis of seabird ecology, able and immediately easy to follow. to anyone with an interest in drawing together a large amount of Instead of poring over this in the seabirds, whether you wish to material into a single volume. Early library, I found myself reading it to know more about those distant chapters define a seabird (which is relax in the evening over a glass of shapes that pass your local head- not as straightforward as it might wine or just before bed. This is not land each autumn or those stinky seem), and introduce some fields to say that the content is in any way birds you ring each summer, or of study that marine ornithologists compromised, for it is incredibly indeed understand a little more must consider in order to under- thorough and accurate; it is simply about why some of our seabird stand their study organisms (e.g. written by someone who not only populations are facing meltdown. oceanography, fisheries, demog- knows their stuff but can communi- raphy and social behaviour). The cate well, and so it is far more Stephen C. Votier

glimpses which make birdwatching berus and European Nightjars NORTH NORFOLK so endlessly fascinating. Prepared to Caprimulgus europaeus,have pro- SUMMER SKETCHBOOK spend time waiting, he has been duced two remarkable series of By James McCallum. Silver richly rewarded during, for drawings, testimony to James’ deter- Brant, Wells-next-the-Sea, example, long periods watching mination and skill. His ability to 2003. 140 pages; 98 colour Eurasian Bitterns Botaurus stellaris. work on the spot, in all weathers, is plates; 88 colour sketches. Having discovered a potential becoming legendary, and it results ISBN 0-9541695-2-2. feeding area, he is prepared to in a vibrant immediacy, lacking in Hardback, £25.00. return to it, to sit, and wait; and, as the work of so many studio-bound he says, ‘…occasionally persistence artists. He records the casual, James McCallum is at the forefront pays off.’ It certainly did, and the 13 unplanned groupings of several dif- of the modern movement in bird paintings and drawings of this ferent species that make birding art, where artists work directly from secretive bird are, in every way, a such fun. He notes with relish the life. He is inspired by what he sees revelation. Similarly, his studies of odd, sometimes awkward, positions and discovers over long hours in the two other species difficult to that birds take up when actively field, recording those fleeting observe, Common Adders Vipera feeding, preening or just getting on

480 © British Birds 97 • September 2004 • 480-483 Reviews with life. And it is life that perme- larly Common Redshanks Tringa It is the arrival of the first Pied Fly- ates all he does, with his quick, totanus, Northern Lapwings catcher Ficedula hypoleuca which urgent line and dashing brush Vanellus vanellus and Avocets signifies the end of summer and strokes. North Norfolk is lucky to Recurvirostra avosetta) on the the first days of autumn. have this obsessive and observant grazing marshes over the summer. I cannot recommend this book chronicler of its wildlife, much as From courtship to nesting, from too highly, and, as Ian Wallace says Anglesey had Charles Tunnicliffe rearing chicks to fledged young, in his perceptive foreword ‘… don’t and Galloway has Donald Watson. from dawn to dusk, they evoke the put it on a shelf, keep it on your And, like them, his pen writes as hectic and quiet moments wonder- bedside table for better dreams.’ well as it draws. fully. The book concludes with The available from the author, tel. At the heart of the book are 30 nearly 30 full-page paintings illus- (01328) 820176. pages which bring together paint- trating the return of passage ings depicting bird life (particu- waders to the creeks and marshes. Robert Gillmor

prise a well-thought-out introduc- I particularly enjoyed the sections A BIRDWATCHERS’ GUIDE tion to Morocco, including pre-trip on ‘strategy’, which suggest ways to TO MOROCCO information, travel to and within maximise your return, point out By Patrick and Fedora Bergier. the country, accommodation, food, each area’s ‘hotspots’, and outline a Prion, Cley-next-the-Sea, 2003. climate, geography and so on. The recommended approach for partic- 166 pages; maps; summary provided is entirely ularly difficult species. The latter line-drawings. appropriate for this book, but will be invaluable when hunting ISBN 1-871104-09-2. unless you are determined to look for things like Dupont’s Lark Cher- Paperback, £14.75. at nothing but birds, you will prob- sophilus duponti. Of course, success ably want to take a more general is never guaranteed but at least you guide-book as well. will not be sitting on the plane This is the second edition of a The information on sites, home feeling that your tactics were book which first appeared in 1990; which forms the bulk of the book, wanting. At the end, there is a full it is considerably larger than the is divided up into ‘location’, species list (birds and other original (now covering around 50 ‘accommodation’, ‘strategy’, ‘birds’ wildlife), selected bibliography and sites, as opposed to 15), and fully and ‘other wildlife’. Most sites or list of local contacts. updated. During the period since areas have one or two maps to A commendable attention to the first edition, Morocco has accompany them, and these are detail characterises this guide from developed rapidly from a tourist’s excellent and easy to follow. On the start to finish. If you are travelling perspective and is now a fairly basis of my own experience, having to Morocco, this book should be straightforward country for birders been to Morocco for the first time one of the first things in your hand who wish to travel independently, in 2003 (sadly without this book, luggage. Simple as that. so this new edition is particularly or its predecessor), the information welcome. presented appears to be accurate, Roger Riddington The first 20 pages or so com- authoritative, and bang up-to-date.

ralist or keen layman visiting this Whitlow’s excellent colour pic- RED KITES IN beautiful area. It is packed with tures); wing-tags and monitoring; THE CHILTERNS interesting detail, covering many visitors from other areas (regular By Ian Carter and Gerry topics, including: history (Red movement to feeding stations in Whitlow. English Nature and Kites last bred in Buckinghamshire central Wales); and persecution The Chilterns Conservation in the early 1800s, in Oxfordshire (sadly, losses to traffic, electrocu- Board, Princes Risborough, in 1832); reintroduction (the pro- tion, poisoning and egg-stealing – 2004. 32 pages; many colour gramme started in 1989 with birds one leading to a £4,000 fine). A photographs. ISBN 0-9545242- from northern Spain, they first useful map depicts the current 1-7. Paperback, £3.00. bred successfully in 1991, there range and sensible advice on were 177 pairs in 2003, with a pop- viewing the kites. Once hooked on An excellent colour guide, ulation of some 1,000 birds); diet this majestic bird, many will wish describing the remarkably suc- and foraging; nest sites; plumage to explore ‘Future information and cessful reintroduction programme and moult (useful detail on ageing useful contacts’, including the first of the Red Kite Milvus milvus to and sexing given here); social author’s The Red Kite (Arlequin the Chilterns. It provides an ideal behaviour (roosts may now exceed Press, 2001). glove-compartment booklet for 200 birds); aerial interaction any avid birdwatcher, casual natu- (depicted neatly by Gerry David Glue

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income by capturing birds to feed or hover around the mirror obliv- LARK MIRRORS: FOLK ART the growing London and Paris ious to the hail of pellets and shot FROM THE PAST meat and cagebird markets; and being directed at them. So dra- By Herman F. Arentsen and recreational hunters, whose matic was this attraction that over Natalino Fenech. Privately primary interest was not income a thousand birds could be killed in published, Valletta, Malta, but sport. The former depended this way in a single day. Just why 2004. 140 pages; many black- largely on trapping larks in nets, the birds find these spinning trin- and-white illustrations. ISBN: while the latter employed a strange kets so fatally attractive is 99932-0-283-3. Paperback lure quite unlike anything else, the unknown, though a number of £25.00, hardback £45.00. ‘lark mirror’ (or ‘lark glass’). unlikely contemporary explana- Although almost infinitely tions are presented. varied in shape, lark mirrors fol- This extraordinary book charts Although British Sky Larks Alauda lowed a basic pattern – a rotating the history of these mirrors, arvensis are largely sedentary, the beam, around 20-30 cm long, describing their evolution, design species is a short- to medium-dis- usually studded with small mirrors, and use and illustrating many of tance migrant across most of its supported on a peg stuck into the the major forms. Although pro- central and northern European ground. The beam was rotated duced commercially, the authors range. Before massive population either by pulling on a string, or by argue that the thriving cottage declines during the twentieth clockwork or electric motors. industry in manufacturing mirrors century, Sky Lark migration must During the autumn migration, led to the development of a form have rated as one of the most spec- hunters across Europe flooded into of folk art. In describing the devel- tacular mass movements of birds selected fields and set their opment and use of lark mirrors, ever witnessed. Nineteenth century mirrors. Often four or five hunting the authors have uncovered a accounts describe vast, sky-dark- parties would set their mirrors in wealth of information on migra- ening flocks of Sky Larks arriving the same field, competing for the tion, on Sky Larks and on the along the east coast of Britain, attentions of the migrating birds social history of hunting that will most en route to wintering overhead. When birds were be of widespread interest. The grounds in France and Iberia. spotted, the beams were set spin- book is available from the authors Hardly surprisingly, these vast ning, and the effect on the (e-mail: [email protected]) movements attracted the attention migrants appears to have been of hunters. These fell into two mesmeric. The birds would drop Paul Donald classes: hunters who earned from the sky like a stone, and perch

30,000-mile odyssey as Wild who devoted every second of 1998 THE BIG YEAR: America. Peterson added a seem- to a North American Big Year. For A TALE OF MAN, NATURE ingly innocuous one-liner as a each, the planning was of a moon AND FOWL OBSESSION footnote stating that his ‘year’s list’ shot degree of thoroughness even By Mark Obmascik. amounted to 572 species. Well, that though, to begin with, none of Doubleday, 2004. 268 pages. did it! them knew that an opponent had ISBN 0-385-60532-3. In the same way that no-one entered the field. The results were Hardback, £12.99. remembers the name of the second dizzy-high tallies, tinged with end- person to walk on the moon, the of-an-era sadness. How come? guy who racked up the next North Well, two factors strongly suggest Bird races are probably the most American year list has long since that the 1998 totals will never be tongue-in-cheek ‘brand’ of bird- been forgotten. He was Stuart bettered. First, trips to Attu Island, watching, and therefore not Keith, a 25-year-old graduate fresh the most westerly of the Aleutian everyone’s cup of tea. They are a out of, wait for it, Oxford! His Islands with a regular supply of North American invention, which, score? 598 in 1956. Since then Palearctic spring migrants, have axiomatically, means that extreme efforts at attaining ever-higher come to an end since the US examples of the genre abound. So totals have smacked of attempts on authorities closed the island to visi- there are Big Days, Big Sits (use Everest. In 1973, 18-year-old Kenn tors in 2000. Second, sweaty dashes your imagination), ‘World Series’ Kaufman thumbed 69,200 miles to airports to board flights at the team-sponsored 24-hour events across the continent, survived on last minute following news of a and, forming the basis for this cat food, sold his blood for cash, rare bird are likely to be dogged by book, Big Years. Roger Tory and saw 669 species – alas, still security red tape in a post 9-11 Peterson and James Fisher luxuri- three less than a motorized rival, world. ated in non-stop, day-after-day Floyd Murdoch. What is the book like? You birding for three months in 1953 Mark Obmascik’s book follows might be tempted to guess that it is and published the tale of their the fortunes of three combatants splattered with exclamation marks

482 British Birds 97 • September 2004 • 480-483 Reviews and puerile, twitcheresque prose of the story, make them live in the nomic damage. It did, however, the ‘expletive deleted’ variety. Far book’s pages as much as Wayne make for excellent birding.’ from it. Nor does it wallow in any Rooney comes alive on a television I hate to spoil such richly navel-gazing introspective, setting screen. deserved praise with a quibble. birders apart from the rest of This is book about people more Moreover, I bet my gripe has Homo sapiens as though we are than just birds. No cobwebs seem nothing to do with the author. It is ‘tribe members’ worthy of literary to be outside the reach of Mark this. Publishers, please use initial psychoanalysis. To be honest, I Obmascik’s broom, and each char- capitals for bird names. Please do expected both. Instead, I got one of acter emerges as likeable – or at not belittle the things that fascinate the greatest breaths of fresh air to least absorbing and forgivable. Into us by reducing their species names be published as birding narrative. the bargain, the book is an to a demeaning and confusing This book is so good that I gave up Aladdin’s Cave of homespun anec- lower case. Finally, back to first birding time to read it. I could not dotes. Wide-ranging topics are impressions. Logically, this has to put it down and, when I had fin- showcased – the history of military mean the cover design. Yes, like the ished, I desperately wanted more. campaigns fought on Attu, the rest of the contents, it is also funny Mark Obmascik writes about the processes that cause El Nino – yet and memorable. So much so that, three central characters in a way the author manages to top chunks in future, I think we will all know that makes you think you are of knowledge with sparkles of the name – Obmascik! reading fast-paced crime fiction. humour. Here’s one example: ‘All He spent huge amounts of time told, the El Nino of 1997 killed at Anthony McGeehan with each and builds character least 2,000 people and caused at portraits that, over the course of least $36 billion damage of eco-

superb illustrations by Richard COLLINS FIELD GUIDE TO Lewington, depicting males, THE BUTTERFLIES OF females and any distinct forms. BRITAIN AND EUROPE The illustrations are grouped By Tom Tolman, illustrated by together in the centre of the book Richard Lewington. 2nd which may not please everyone. edition. HarperCollins, So, besides the cover, what else London, 2004. 528 pages; has changed? A comparison with colour paintings; distribution my well-thumbed copy, would maps. ISBN 0-00-718991-5. suggest little, if anything. It seems Hardback, £25.00. strange that this opportunity to bring the guide more up-to-date was missed. For example, the text ‘Not another guide to butterflies!’ and distribution map for Wood was my initial reaction on picking White Leptidea sinapis have not up this book. Well, yes and no. The yet accessible account. The text for been updated to reflect the dis- unfamiliar cover suggested a new each species comprises sections on covery in 2001 of Réal’s Wood publication but, on opening the range, distribution, variation, White L. reali in Ireland. Minor book, all became clear: this is a new flight-period, habitat, life-history, niggles should not detract from edition of a former classic. behaviour and conservation. The what is a fantastic and inspiring This impressive book covers the use of abbreviations has been nec- book. It is an essential guide for butterflies of Europe and North essary, but these are mainly intu- anyone travelling in Europe with Africa, some 440 species in total. itive and are fully explained. A an interest in butterflies, and I With so many species to describe, distribution map is provided for thoroughly recommend it. the author has done well to provide almost all species. The text is com- each species with an authoritative plemented with over 100 pages of Simon Stirrup

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