Books About Birds A guide to books about birds and birdwatching Home | Index | Search | Links | Contact


On this page

Books about Cornwall birds and birdwatching in Cornwall

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.



For bird books about other English counties see:

Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Bristol (Avon)
Buckinghamshire
Cambridgeshire
Cheshire
Cornwall
Cumbria
Derbyshire
Devon
Dorset
Durham
Essex
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
Isle of Wight
Isles of Scilly
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
London
Manchester
Merseyside
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Northumberland
Nottinghamshire
Oxfordshire
Rutland
Shropshire
Somerset
Staffordshire
Suffolk
Surrey
Sussex
Warwickshire
West Midlands
Wiltshire
Worcestershire
Yorkshire

 

A History of Cornish Ornithology: The Path to Conservation

Colin Rees

Tor Mark Press

"A History of Cornish Ornithology begins with an overview of Cornwall's distinctive landscape and other salient features. It then progresses through pre-historic times, highlights developments in the mediaeval period, and celebrates the accelerated interest in ornithology in subsequent centuries. The great Cornish naturalists Moyle, Carew, Borlase, Couch, Rodd and Ryves take centre stage, and A History of Cornish Ornithology explores their influence on Cornishmen as well as influences on them from the rest of Britain. The evolving roles played by the Cornwall Bird Watching Preservation Society and The Cornwall Wildlife Trust are described and the text enlivened with reports of rarities and common species, accounts of influential personalities (birds and people), and attempts to stem the erosion of birdlife, including accounts of establishing reserves. Along the way, the chapters examine the dramatically changing status of bird populations and their habitats and the valiant efforts to assure wildlife protection in the face of industrialisation and agricultural practices and, more recently, climate change. The last chapters review the efforts of our own nascent century and speculate about the future of ornithology in Cornwall and the rest of the country."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Lizard Bird Diary: A Study of the Birds of the South Lizards Peninsula, Cornwall: 1970-2015

Brian Cave

2016

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Where to Watch Birds: Devon & Cornwall: Including the Isles of Scilly and Lundy

David Norman & Vic Tucker

Christopher Helm

2009

"Whether local or visiting, expert or novice, Where to Watch Birds in Devon and Cornwall is the essential guide for any active birdwatcher in these counties. All significant birdwatching areas in the region are analysed under the headings 'Habitat', 'Timing', 'Access' and 'Calendar', providing all the information necessary to make the most of each and every trip, whatever the time of year. This substantially revised and expanded edition has new chapters, details of 'clusters' of sites easily accessible from particular holiday or population centres, additional information on access for the car-bound or disabled, as well as numerous examples of recent occurrences and significant status changes."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Best Birdwatching Sites: Cornwall & Scilly

Sarah McMahon and Nigel Hudson

Illustrations: Alan Harris

Buckingham Press

2008

"Sara McMahon, a long-time officer of the county bird club, provides detailed assessments of 52 key birding areas, ranging from established nature reserves such as RSPB Marazion Marsh to the western valleys, such as Cot Valley and Nanquidno, which provide a welcome refuge for exhausted vagrants from America and Siberia each autumn. Inland areas are well covered with detailed reports on reservoirs such as Drift and Stithians and moorland sites such as Golitha and Tamar Lakes, but it is the coastal locations which receive the greatest attention and Sara provides a complete guide to seawatching with details of species and sites, plus her fieldcraft tips based on hard-won experience. Scilly is famous for its incredible track record in turning up rare and interesting birds and many birders make an annual pilgrimage to these attractive islands each autumn. Nigel Hudson, secretary of the British Birds Rarity Committee, provides a detailed guide to each of the significant islands in the archipeligo, plus details of ferries and inter-island boats to ensure your visit is a great success."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

David Chapman

Alison Hodge

2008

"More than 250 species of birds are recorded in Cornwall every year. This books includes them all, with spectacular colour photographs of all the common ones, most of the uncommon ones, and some of the rarer birds. It includes 'at a glance' details of seasons, habitats, status, and places in which to see them."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Wild About Cornwall

David Chapman

Alison Hodge

2007

"This work is a celebration of the natural history of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It features 40 sites, including: the best places to see flora and fauna in a variety of habitats across the county and on the islands; suggested walks; and, approximately 580 species."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


2004 Cornwall Barn Owl Survey Report

P. French and D. Ramsden

Barn Owl Trust

2005

"A joint project by the Barn Owl Trust and the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society."

book cover

Chatter of Choughs: An Anthology Celebrating the Return of Cornwall's Legendary Bird

Editor: Lucy Newlyn

Illustrations: Lucy Wilkinson

The Hypatia Trust in association with St. Edmund Hall, Oxford

2005 (revised edition)

An illustrated anthology of poems and essays exploring many aspects of the bird itself, its literary and historical importance, and its association with St Edmund Hall, Oxford. This is now a revised edition celebrating the bird's return to Cornwall. The revised edition has a new introduction by Lucy Newlyn, a foreword by John Stallworthy, an afterword by Charles Thomas, and thirty new contributions.

The original edition was published in 2001. It includes writings about the bird by Shakespeare, Rex Warner, Sylvia Plath, Tom Paulin, Bernard O'Donoghue, Terry Jones and David Constantine, and a range of writing by Fellows, undergraduates and members of staff of St. Edmund College.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover

book cover


Cornwall Wildlife Trust: Nature Reserves Handbook

Cornwall Wildlife Trust

2004

"Covers 54 of Cornwall's nature reserves. Each entry can be removed from the binder for use in the field and contains a map of the reserve and useful information on habitat type. the size of the reserve, the corresponding Ordnance Survey map number and grid reference, and the best time to visit. Further information is also provided on access and directions and the type of wildlife likely to be encountered."

book cover

Jonathan Couch's Cornish Birds

R.D. Penhallurick

Polperro Heritage Press

2003

"Dr Jonathan Couch (1789-1870) of Polperro was Cornwall's foremost naturalist in the 19th century, whose importance has been likened to Gilbert White. This work draws on the Royal Institution of Cornwall's extensive collection of his material, in particular his hitherto unpublished study of Cornish birds begun in 1829 and his "Journal of Natural History" of which ten of its 12 volumes had been lost for over a century. Roger Penhallurick has also added material from other contemporary sources. His book includes a short biography of Couch and notes of his local contacts and those of national importance such as Thomas Bewick and William Yarrell, both of whom corresponded with Couch. Illustrations include engravings highlighting the difficulty of identification encountered by early naturalists at a time when ornithology was in its infancy."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Where to Watch Birds: Devon & Cornwall: Including the Isles of Scilly and Lundy

David Norman & Vic Tucker

Christopher Helm

2001

"Whether local or visiting, expert or novice, Where to watch birds in Devon and Cornwall is the essential guide for any active birdwatcher in these counties. All significant birdwatching areas in the region are analysed under the headings 'Habitat', 'Timing', 'Access' and 'Calendar', providing all the information necessary to make the most of each and every trip, whatever the time of year. This substantially revised and expanded edition has new chapters, details of 'clusters' of sites easily accessible from particular holiday or population centres, additional information on access for the car-bound or disabled, as well as numerous examples of recent occurrences and significant status changes."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds Of Cornwall

Trevor Beer and Endymion Beer

Tor Mark Press

1999

"Trevor Beer and Endymion Beer are among the West Country's best known naturalists. Using their own superb photographs, here they introduce some of the birds you can expect to find while exploring the Cornish countryside - sea coast and estuary, then inland through lanes and woodlands."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Where to Watch Birds: Devon & Cornwall: Including the Isles of Scilly and Lundy

David Norman & Vic Tucker

Christopher Helm

1997

"A comprehensive guide to birdwatching sites in Devon and Cornwall. This edition includes extra chapters, "clusters" of sites easily accessible from particular holiday or population centres, information on access for the car-bound or disabled, and an update of recent occurrences at each site."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


1994 Barn Owl Survey Of Cornwall

Keith Grant, Derek Lord and David Ramsden

Barn Owl Trust

1995

"A joint project by the Barn Owl Trust and the Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society."

book cover

Where to Watch Birds: Devon & Cornwall

David Norman & Vic Tucker

Christopher Helm

1991

"Information on the original 39 sites has been updated and extended, and there is new text on recently developed or created sites. The site accounts cover habitat, species, timing, access and calendar. Each site has Ordinance Survey map references and up-to-date contact addresses."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Where to Watch Birds: Devon & Cornwall

David Norman & Vic Tucker

Christopher Helm

1984

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Nature Of Cornwall

The Wildlife And Ecology Of The County

Rennie M. Bere

Illustrations: Marjorie Blamey, Franklin Coombs

Barracuda Books

1982

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Birds Of Cornwall & The Isles Of Scilly

R.D. Penhallurick

Headlands Publications

1978

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Cornish Chough

T. O. Darke

D Bradford Barton Ltd

1971

A 44 page study of the Chough in Cornwall with some black and white photographs. Contents include: The last Cornish Chough; The bird itself; Persecution; Other influences; Nature; The return.

book cover

The Naturalist In Devon And Cornwall

Roger Burrows

David & Charles

1971

300 pages with b/w photographs and maps.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds Of Cornwall: Sea And Shore

R.D. Penhallurick

Tor Mark Press

1970

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Bird Life In Cornwall

B.H. Ryves

Illustrations: R.A. Richardson

Collins

1948

"The author has devoted the last twenty-seven years to the intensive study of wild birds in their natural surroundings in Cornwall and has thus accumulated vast detailed knowledge and had many most interesting experiences which he relates in a charming, lucid style. Primarily written for the amateur naturalist the book has, however, a wider appeal; the most serious ornithological student will find much that will add to his knowledge."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Marsh and Shore: Bird-watching on the Cornish Coast'

Hilda Quick

Jonathan Cape

1948

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Bird-Watcher In Cornwall

Peter H.T. Hartley

Illustrations: Roland Green

Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds

1948

One of a series of short booklets about birdwatching in English counties.

book cover

The Birds of Cornwall

Edward Hearle Rodd

Royal Institute of Cornwall

1903

book cover


The Birds of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands

Edward Hearle Rodd

Trubner & Co

1880

book cover




Last updated August 2017