Print BB Sept 2004 Q5

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.

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