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Leicestershire / Rutland

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

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The Rutland Water Ospreys

Tim Mackrill with Tim Appleton and Helen McIntyre

A & C Black

2013

"Anglian Water's project to reintroduce the osprey to England has been an outstanding success, but is also a very personal project for the volunteers who have been involved in the ospreys' journey from Scotland to Africa via Rutland. The Rutland Water Ospreys, published in close collaboration with Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, is a celebration of their project and a chance for osprey fans everywhere to discover the many amazing stories behind the Rutland osprey team's efforts over the last two decades to re-establish these magnificent birds in England."

Rutland Breeding Bird Atlas 2008-2011

Terry Mitcham

2013

An atlas describing status and distribution of breeding birds in Rutland based on data collected between 2008 and 2001. Comparisons are made with an earlier atlas based on data collected between 1988 and 1991.

Wildlife of a Garden: A Thirty-year Study

Jennifer Owen

2010

"This was no wildlife garden; the term barely existed when Owen started recording in 1972. Hers was a standard family garden in suburban Leicester. In this unique long-term study she recorded 2,673 species ranging from plants to mammals. Wildlife she monitored included butterflies, moths, beetles, hoverflies (Owen's specialist area) and numerous other invertebrates as well as plants, mammals and birds. She discusses diversity, abundance and annual fluctuations and relates these to weather, changes in the countryside and other ecological factors. Numerous garden species, both common and unusual, are illustrated in full colour. Owen's earlier book, The Ecology of a Garden (CUP, 1991), presented the results of the first 15 years of her survey. It was a landmark publication that became the standard reference for all those interested in garden wildlife. This new work brings the whole survey together by adding many new records and providing analysis of long-term trends. The author concludes that insect numbers declined over the survey period, although beetles and solitary wasps bucked the trend and increased. The declines are probably due to loss of suitable habitat in the wider environment but she remains optimistic regarding management changes in the countryside and increasing temperatures. She also finds that non-native garden plants are particularly good as food sources for insect larvae, particularly moth caterpillars, the best being buddleia (Buddleja davidii), shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) and cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera). Owen's work is published at a time when interest in wildlife gardening has never been higher but detailed data is scarce; this book fills the gap."

The Birds of Leicestershire and Rutland

Andrew Harrop, Dave Gamble, Rob Fray, Roger Davies, Steve Lister

2009

"The County Avifaunas are a growing series of books, each of which gives details of the status and range of every species on the county list, with a detailed breakdown of rarity records. Each has introductory sections describing the county's ecology and habitats, climate, ornithological history and conservation record. This new avifauna covers Leicestershire and neighbouring Rutland, an area with a particularly strong birding tradition - the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is one of the largest county bird clubs in Britain. The region holds some of England's most important inland reservoirs, including the largest, Rutland Water. This massive lake holds some 10,000 wintering birds of a variety of species each year, and has an impressive rarity list as well as some of England's few breeding Ospreys. The county also has important woodlands, gull roosts and river habitats. Rutland Water is the home of the British Birdwatching Fair, the most important trade fair in the birding calendar."

Exploring Woodland: Peak District and Central England

The Woodland Trust

2007

"Exploring Woodland is a series of guides from the Woodland Trust that describe and illustrate 101 woodland sites in different parts of the UK. Ilustrated with site maps and photographs, these are the essential woodland guides for all tree lovers. Both privately owned and public woods are included in the guides. There is a map of each site and information on how to find it, the type of woodland, the facilities available and what to look out for on your visit, including the wildlife that you may meet there. All sites have been visited by independent researchers so that the information in each book is up-to-date. Exploring Woodland: Peak District and Central England covers the ancient woodland of the central counties of England from South Yorkshire through Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the Peak District to Leicestershire, and east to Lincolnshire. It includes Sherwood Forest, perhaps England's best-known forest of all."

Where to Watch Birds: East Midlands

Rob Fray

2006

"The five counties covered in this guide (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire) comprise natural and man-made areas as diverse as the Wash, Rutland Water and Sherwood Forest. Famous migration hot spots are found on the Lincolnshire coast, while the river valleys of the Humber, Trent, Welland and Nene all atttract a wide range of species. Following the series format, each of the 49 major sites is dealt with in detail, providing information on habitat, access, best times of the year to visit and the species likely to be encountered. Maps and line drawings enhance this exhaustive text."

The Birdlife of Swithland Reservoir

Ian Gamble

2001

"The book has three introductory chapters. In the first, Ian recalls 'Seasons and Memories' of bird watching at the reservoir. 'Charnwood a thousand years of change' describes the changes that have fashioned our countryside and its wildlife and which will affect it in future years. The third is written by Ian's naturalist father, Peter Gamble, on the Physical Features, History and Vegetation of the area. These chapters are extensively illustrated in colour, with paintings by Ernest Leahy, and 70 colour photographs by Ian and Peter. The largest section of the book is a systematic account of all the birds ever recorded at the reservoir. It describes their distributions world-wide and their migration patterns, giving a remarkable picture of how this secluded spot is part of a global network of bird movements. The British distribution and population trends; local and national status, breeding habits, appearance and identification habits are also well described, along with notable records and observations for each species at the reservoir ."

50 Rutland Birds: An introduction to Rutland's Birdlife

Terry Mitcham

2001

"Describes 50 species of birds giving identification features, habitat and food details, and where you can see them."

Rare Wildlife in Leicestershire and Rutland

Andrew Heaton

Published in association with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Service

1998

"The Salmon, the red-backed shrike, the beautiful demoiselle, the snake's-head fritillary – all these have become extinct as breeding species in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland during the course of this century. Even now, despite an ever-increasing interest in conservation, with a network of nature reserves covering the two counties and the city, many animals and plants remain rare and under threat. This Red Data Book details these endangered species, identifies the threats facing them, and suggests ways of conserving their populations for the future."

Birds of Charnwood

Michael Webster

1997

"Charnwood Forest is an area of rocky outcrops, woodland and heathland, between Leicester and Loughborough, in the English Midlands. Between 1992 and 1994 Michael Webster co-ordinated a detailed survey of the breeding birds of the area, and this book provides distribution maps for all 93 recorded species. But ‘Birds of Charnwood' is also a vivid account of the author's experiences observing the birds and wildlife of Charnwood. Beautifully illustrated throughout, with 97 specially commissioned drawings, it provides a unique insight into the birdlife of the area. An ideal book not just for ornithologists but anyone who enjoys the countryside."

Leicestershire Garden Birds

Steve Grove & Ken Goodrich

1997

"The information included in this publication is based on over 250 000 sightings of 101 species recorded by almost 1000 participants recording over one million birds. There are detailed accounts of the 20 most commonly recorded garden birds in the area plus comments on other notable species plus a checklist of all species recorded in the survey."

Where to Watch Birds: East Midlands

Graham Catley

1996

"This volume is one in a series that shows where to watch birds in the UK and Ireland. Covering the counties of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, it indicates 49 major sites and other areas of interest. It covers both man-made and natural habitats."

James Harley: A Leicestershire Naturalist 1801-1860

R.A.O. Hickling

1996

Rutland Breeding Bird Atlas

T. Mitcham

1992

"A comprehensive survey to the 109 species breeding in the old county of Rutland with distribution maps and information on habitats. Survey carried out during 1988/90. B/w photographs and line drawings."

Birdwatching Walks in Leicestershire

D. Cohen and J. Graham

1991

"A short booklet describing 14 of the best birdwatching areas in the county."

Birds of Birstall: Bird Life in the Parish of Birstall, Leicestershire: A Ten Year Study

M.D. Kirkham

1988

Birdwatching in Rutland

T. Mitcham

1987

Describes 19 birdwatching sites in Rutland.

The Birds of Rutland and its Reservoirs

T. Mitcham

1984

"This book is a review of the birds of Rutland between 1941 and 1980, based largely on the published records of the LROS, the RNHS and the LRTNC. For each species there is an account of its status and distribution in Rutland, together with arrival and departure dates for migrants.Relevant ringing recoveries are also included.The effects of changes in habitat, adverse and otherwise, are stressed throughout. Birds new to Rutland since 1980 are described in an appendix and the book is fully illustrated throughout with line drawings and photographs showing the variety of Rutland habitats and typical birds."

Birds in Leicestershire and Rutland

R.A.O. Hickling

Illustrations: Robert Gillmor

Photographic Editor: Martin Withers

1978

The Birds of Bradgate

Bradgate Park Trust

1976

The Birds of East Leicestershire

Jack Otter

1965

A Bird-Watcher In Leicestershire and Rutland

A.E. Jolley

Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds

1947

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

Notes On The Birds of Rutland

C.G. Haines

1907