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Wales

This page lists general books about birds and birdwatching in Wales.

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


Welsh regions

For bird books that cover specific regions of Wales see:

Anglesey
Mid-Wales
North Wales
Sourth Wales
Pembrokeshire


GB / UK books

The majority of field guides and other bird books that include Wales cover the whole of the UK and often Europe. For information about these see:

- Britain/Europe field guides

 

The Breeding Birds of North Wales

Editor: Ian M. Spence, Anne Brenchley, Rhion Pritchard and Geoff Gibbs

Liverpool University Press

2013

"Framed by the magnificent and internationally important coastline from the Dyfi round Anglesey to the Dee, North Wales, which includes the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, is a very special place for birds. In excess of 700 contributors submitted more than 200,000 records over five summers to produce this fascinating atlas of the area's breeding birds. Lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs this beautiful full colour book includes fully bilingual introductory chapters, a Welsh language précis alongside each English language species account and a wealth of recording data, maps and tables."

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Woodland Management for Birds: A Guide to Managing Woodland for Priority Birds in Wales

John Dyda, Nigel Symes and Dave Lamacraft

RSPB / Forestry Commission Wales

2010

"Forestry Commission Wales and the RSPB with the support of the Countryside Council for Wales have produced a new guide on managing woodland for priority birds in Wales. It explains the importance of habitat features for birds and provides advice on planning and managing woodland as well as describing the requirements of each of the priority woodland birds identified."

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Where to Watch Birds in Britain

Simon Harrap and Nigel Redman

Christopher Helm

2010

"This guide covers the very best birding sites in Britain. In a format familiar to readers of this popular series, each site is considered in terms of 'Habitat', Access' and 'Birds', allowing birders of all levels to plan successful birding trips anywhere in Britain, and to maximise the chances of getting the best out of each site and each region. The book includes detailed maps of the larger sites, plus general maps of the regions covered, and it is illustrated with attractive line drawings. This book has been extensively revised, with several new sites added for this edition, together with information on disabled access for most sites."

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Where to Watch Birds: Wales

Dave Saunders, Jon Green

Christopher Helm

2008

"This is the fourth edition of this very popular site guide. Wales remains one of the most alluring regions for birdwatchers; its range of habitats ensures a wide variety of species amidst the often spectacular scenery. This new edition includes many additional sites added, new up-to-date maps and line drawings, and fully revised and expanded text."

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Best Birdwatching Sites: North Wales

Alan Davies and Owen Roberts

Buckingham Press

2007

"This book features around 60 sites from South Stack on Anglesey to Gresford Flash near Wrexham, together with detailed maps and access information, disabled access, public transport information and even a guide on how to pronounce the Welsh names correctly."

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Llyfr Adar

Peter Hayman, Rob Hume, Iolo Williams

Gwasg Carreg Gwalch

2005

A Welsh language edition of the Mitchell Beazley field guide (by Rob Hume and Peter Hayman) with an introduction by Iolo Williams.

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The Red Kites of Wales

Tony Cross & Peter Davis

Subbuteo Natural History Books

2005

A 48 page guide to the natural history of the Red Kite in Wales. Includes colour photographs.

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Birds in Wales 1992-2000

Jonathan Green

Welsh Ornithological Society

2002

A detailed review of birds in Wales in the 1990s.

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Where to Watch Birds: Wales

Dave Saunders

Christopher Helm

2000

"This is a guide to birdwatching in Wales with a description of 11 sites and information on habitat, species to be seen and access. Appendices describe minor sites, national and local conservation organizations, bird clubs and societies and a complete list of bird species mentioned in the book."

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In Search Of Birds In Wales

Brian O'Shea

Illustrations: John Green

Skylark Books

2000

Examines the birds of Wales by habitat.

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Natural History in Wales

Editor: D.M. Spillards

National Museum of Wales

1997

"This glossy, colorful publication describes the incredibly varied but fragile natural history of Wales. It features richly illustrated sections on the sea, the coast, woodlands, wetlands, pastures, moorlands and mountains. We come across the various flora and fauna which make Wales unique, including basking sharks, puffins, red kite, mink, alpine saxifrage and bilberry. A section on the future examines conservation strategies e.g. nature reserves, parks and trails, and alien species, like the grey squirrel, or rhododendron - and whether or not they are welcome."

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Birds in Wales

R.Lovegrove, G.Williams & I.Williams

Illustrations: Kim Atkinson, Phil Bristow, Terence Lambert, Darren Rees, Philip Snow, Owen Williams

Poyser

1994

"This volume sets out for the first time the historical and current status of all the bird species found in Wales together with their present distribution. The three authors, all staff of the RSPB in Wales, have between them, an accumulated experience of some 80 years of first-hand knowledge of birds in the Principality. Their knowledge and love of the birds and Wales itself makes this authoritative volume a landmark both in Welsh and ornithological publishing."

Contents: The Welsh Countries (Administrative Boundaries); Myth and History; Sources and References; Principal Sites Mentioned in Species Accounts; Physical Characteristics and Bird Habitats; Bird Recording in Wales. The Impact of Agriculture on Birds; The Offshore Waters of Wales; Background to the Species Accounts.

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Where to Watch Birds: Wales

Dave Saunders

Christopher Helm

1992

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The Red Kite In Wales

John Evans

Christopher Davies Publishers

1991

A guide to the Red Kite in Wales. Describes the history of the species from its widespread distribution in earlier centuries through persecution and near disappearance to recent conservation projects. A second section describes the area where the Red Kite could be found at the time of writing.

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The Kite's Tale: The Story of the Red Kite in Wales

Roger Lovegrove

RSPB

1990

The story of the Red Kite in Great Britain. In 1990 Roger Lovegrove was the RSPB officer in Wales.

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Where to Watch Birds: Wales

Dave Saunders

Christopher Helm

1987

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The Natural History of Wales

William M. Condry

Collins

New Naturalist 66

1982

"This book is an attempt to survey the natural history of the whole of Wales. It therefore covers such areas as Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons as well as the spectacularly beautiful Pembrokeshire coast and the less well-known but no less interesting areas of mid-Wales. Describing each kind of terrain in turn, William Condry has explored and surveyed the face of this unique land as few others have done. Beginning with corries, crags and summits, he goes on to consider moorlands, mires and conifers. There then follow rivers, lakes and marshes; the native woodlands; limestone flora; farmlands, villages and estates; the industrial scene; and finally perhaps the most striking terrain of all, the coast. This encompasses polders, peatlands, beaches, dunes and estuaries as well as cliffs, headlands and island."

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Birds Of The Welsh Coast

Reg Jones

Jarrold & Son

1977

32 pages.

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Welsh Birds

Graham Date

John Jones, Cardiff

1976

32 pages.

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A Guide to the Birds of Wales

David Saunders

Constable

1975

The main part of this book is a county-by-county summary of the avifauna of Wales. Each county sections includes an introduction to the county, a summary of the avifauna, descriptions of bird watching sites and other supporting information.

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Welsh Birds

Trevor Beer

James Pike

1975

40 pages.

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The Naturalist in Wales

R.M. Lockley

David & Charles

1970

Includes two illustrations by C.F. Tunnicliffe.

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Birds Of Wales

Arthur Brook

National Museum of Wales

1967

31 pages. Black and white photographs by Arthur Brook.

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Birds Of The Welsh Coast

T.G. Walker

University of Wales

1956

100 pages. A study of 24 species that are found around the coast of Wales. With black and white photographs.

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A Handbook To The Vertebrate Fauna Of North Wales

H. Edward Forrest

Witherby & Co

1919

From the Introductory Note:

"The present volume is designed to furnish in a convenient form an account of the Birds, Beasts and Fishes of North Wales. Under each species is a brief summary showing its status and distribution in the district. This gives at a glance the information usually sought by a naturalist or visitor coming into North Wales."
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The Vertebrate Fauna Of North Wales

H. Edward Forrest

Witherby & Co

1907

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Bird Life In Wild Wales

J.A. Walpole-Bond

Illustrated with photographs by Oliver G. Pike

T. Fisher Unwin

1904

From the preface:

"The ensuing pages are not meant to be a scientific or comprehensive work' on British Birds, but simply records of observations and sketches made in the course of many rambles amid their haunts. It will be seen that our lines have fallen in fair ground with regard to some of our rarer species - notably the Kite, now almost extinct, the Buzzard and Raven, which are both rapidly becoming so, the Crested Grebe, Pied Flycatcher, and others. For such advantageous opportunities we are deeply indebted to that ardent and excellent naturalist and sportsman. Colonel Evan Thomas, as well as to his brother, Mr. E. D. Thomas, and his nephew, Mr. A. Thomas. To another excellent brother-naturalist, Mr. J. Williams-Vaughan, we also owe our obligations, nor shall we readily forget his great kindness in allowing us the run of his house, whilst he himself was away, in order that we might follow up our studies. X PREFACE Many thanks also are due to his cousin, Mr. A. Gwynne-Vaughan, another good all-round sports- man, as well as to Rev. D. E. Owen for much valuable information and help ; also to Mr. P. S. Phillips, Captain G. C. Beauchamp, Captain C. H. Wood, Mr. R. Gilbert, and the following keepers, W. Watkins, Enoch Thomas, and W. Webb."
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List Of The Birds Of North Wales

Compiled For The Use Of Gymdeithas Llafar Gwlad

Rev. T. Shankland

J. Rees, Mold

1891

Preliminary notice:

"This List has been compiled with a view of securing uniformity of value in the results of the labours of 'Llafar Gwlad' collectors. It will also facilitate their work. If those who are disposed to help the Society, will observe the following Rules, they will not only assist the Society to gain its object, but also enable it to render a very valuable contribution to the Ornithology of North Wales. This List does not pretend as yet to possess any scientific value, but it is hoped that it will serve as a provisional basis for building up a list of great value at some future time. Naturalists are kindly requested to aid in tilling up gaps and correcting any errors."
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Last updated August 2013