WILDGuides of Britain & Europe – serie

A comprehensively updated edition of an identification guide that was named a Guardian Best Nature Book of the YearNow in a comprehensively revised and updated new edition, Britain's Spiders is a guide to all 38 of the British families, focussing on spiders that can be identified in the field. Illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs, it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, including those new to spider identification. This book pushes the boundaries of field identification for this challenging group, combining information on features that can be seen with the naked eye or a hand lens with additional evidence from webs, egg sacs, behaviour, phenology, habitats and distributions. Individual accounts cover 404 species-all of Britain's "macro" spiders and the larger money spiders, with the limitations to field identification clearly explained. This new edition includes nine species new to Britain, many recent name changes, updated distribution maps and species information, new guides to help identify spider families and distinctive species, and the latest species checklist.A guide to spider families, based on features recognizable in the field, focussing on body shape and other characteristics, as well as separate guides to webs and egg-sacsDetailed accounts and more than 700 stunning photographs highlight key identification features for each genus and species, and include information on status, behaviour and habitatsUp-to-date distribution maps, and charts showing adult seasonalityIntroductory chapters on the biology of spiders, and where, when and how to find them, including equipment needed in the fieldA complete list of the spiders recorded in Britain, indicating the ease of identification as well as rarity and conservation statusInformation on how to record spiders and make your records count, and guidance on how to take your interest furtherNew to this edition: coverage of nine species new to Britain, updated species information and distribution maps, identification guides to spider families and distinctive species, and the latest species checklist

A richly illustrated, state-of-the-art field guide for identifying European passerines in flight—the first of its kindOpening up new frontiers in birdwatching, this is the first field guide to focus specifically on the identification of European passerines and related landbirds in flight. Showcasing 850 stunning and remarkably lifelike colour illustrations from acclaimed bird artist Tomasz Cofta, produced using the latest digital technology, backed up with more than 2,400 photographs carefully selected to show typical flight profiles, it provides detailed and unsurpassed coverage of 205 European passerines and 32 near-passerines. This cutting-edge book brings a new dimension to birdwatching, the concise and authoritative species accounts presenting novel yet essential information on the flight manner of individual birds and the structure and behaviour of flocks—features that are key to identification. It also includes precise transliterations of flight calls, supported by sonograms, and links to a unique collection of hundreds of online audio recordings. Beautifully designed and written in an accessible style, this book will appeal to birdwatchers of all abilities. It presents the latest knowledge on flight identification of a group of birds that is poorly covered in the literature and is therefore a must-have for all professional ornithologists and scientists involved in migration studies.The first field guide to flight identification of European passerines and related landbirdsCovers 205 European passerines and 32 near-passerinesFeatures 850 stunning colour illustrationsIncludes more than 2,400 photos showing typical profiles of each species in flightProvides detailed information on flight calls, with links to online recordings

An accessible, comprehensive and beautifully illustrated guide—the only one to cover all the orchids found in Britain and IrelandCovering all fifty-one native species and twelve of uncertain origin, as well as hybrids and variants, Britain’s Orchids is an engaging, intuitive and in-depth identification guide to all the orchids of Britain and Ireland at all stages of development, from first emergence to setting seed. Drawing on the authors’ extensive field experience and the latest scientific research, the book uses multiple techniques to help both beginner and more advanced orchid enthusiasts to identify even the most difficult plants. It is beautifully illustrated with watercolour paintings by talented artist Sarah Stribbling, and features more than 1,200 evocative, instructive and detailed photographs. Orchids have long fired the imagination with their beauty and rarity. This book aims to ignite or increase your passion for these special plants, and for the conservation of their varied habitats—from remote mountaintops to urban wild spaces.The first book to cover all the species at all stages of development, as well as all subspecies, varieties and confirmed hybridsLavishly illustrated with 98 beautiful watercolour platesMore than 1,200 stunning photos showing the orchids in their natural settings and highlighting key identification featuresSimple, step-by-step system for identifying almost any orchid you encounterUp-to-date distribution maps and seasonal charts showing when each species can be seen in its various stages of developmentSean Cole is a field naturalist who has been studying orchids for more than twenty years, with special interests in identification, taxonomy and pollination. He has published many articles on British orchids, including his specialty, the Ghost Orchid. Mike Waller is an ecologist and botanist who specializes in European orchids. He has worked for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Natural History Museum in London, the London Wildlife Trust and Plantlife.

The go-to photographic guide to Britain and Ireland’s insectsBritain’s Insects is an innovative, up-to-date, carefully designed and beautifully illustrated field guide to Britain and Ireland's twenty-five insect orders, concentrating on popular groups and species that can be identified in the field. Featuring superb photographs of live insects, the guide covers the key aspects of identification and provides information on status, distribution, seasonality, habitat, food plants and behaviour. It also offers insight into the life history of the various insect groups, many of which are truly amazing. This is the go-to guide for entomologists, naturalists, gardeners, wildlife photographers and anyone else interested in insects, whatever their level of knowledge.More than 2,600 stunning photographs, carefully selected to show key identification featuresPhoto guides to every insect order, covering 316 families and almost 850 generaCovers 1,653 species, of which 1,476 are illustratedDesigned to allow easy, accurate comparison of similar speciesUp-to-date distribution maps and charts summarizing adult seasonalityQR codes that link to sound recordings of grasshoppers and cricketsInformation on photographing and recording insects to help conservation

The only comprehensive photographic guide to the ferns, clubmosses, quillworts and horsetails of BritainThis is a comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and user-friendly photographic identification guide to the fifty-seven ferns and seventeen other pteridophytes that occur in Britain. It is the perfect companion for botanists, naturalists, professional ecologists and anyone else with an interest in this fascinating group of non-flowering vascular plants. Designed to appeal to beginners and experts alike, this authoritative book includes novel identification keys and comparison tables that have been carefully devised to present only essential, easily understood technical terms and descriptions, avoiding jargon as much as possible. Cross-referenced throughout to facilitate the comparison of similar species, this definitive field guide is the go-to source for identifying these species with confidence.Features hundreds of stunning colour photographsComprehensive coverage of Britain's 57 species of ferns, 6 clubmosses, 3 quillworts and 8 horsetailsIncludes novel, easy-to-use, jargon-free identification keys and comparison tablesBeautifully designed, user-friendly and accessible

A carefully designed and beautifully illustrated photographic guide to the moths you are most likely to see during the dayThis concise photographic field guide helps you to identify the day-flying moths most likely to be seen in Great Britain and Ireland. It combines stunning photographs, clear and authoritative text and an easy-to-use design to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of these intriguing and often colourful insects. Like butterflies, some moths fly regularly in sunshine, whereas others that usually fly at night are readily disturbed from their resting places during the day. This guide describes all of these species and features at least one photograph of each in its natural, resting pose. A brief description of each moth covers the key identification features and when and where to look for it, and includes information on its status, life history, special features and caterpillar food plants. Other sections explain how to distinguish moths from butterflies, and also provide essential information on biology, classification, habitats, gardening for moths, conservation and legislation and recording and monitoring.Individual accounts for 158 species and photos of 28 othersMore than 320 stunning photos, with every moth shown as you see itBeautifully designed, easy to use and clearly written

A new and improved edition of the popular photographic field guideBritain’s Butterflies is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Containing hundreds of stunning colour photographs, this extensively revised and updated new edition provides the latest information on every species ever recorded. It covers in detail the identification of all 59 butterfly species that breed regularly, as well as four former breeders, 10 rare migrants and one species of unknown status. The easy-to-use format will enable butterfly watchers—beginners or experts—to identify any species they encounter. Produced in association with Butterfly Conservation, this edition features new introductory sections to the main "types" of butterflies; updated distribution maps; a revised species order reflecting the latest taxonomy; revised sections on recording and monitoring, and conservation and legislation; and a new section on climate change.Stunning colour plates show typical views of each butterfly species, including the various forms and common aberrationsDetailed species profiles provide information on status and distribution, including up-to-date maps, and cover adult identification; behaviour; breeding habitat requirements; population and conservation; egg, caterpillar and chrysalis; and caterpillar foodplantsPhotographs of the egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for every breeding speciesSections on biology, where to look for and how to identify butterflies, and other essential information

A comprehensive photographic identification guide to all of the native trees and shrubs of Great Britain and Ireland and many of the common non-native speciesTrees of Britain and Ireland is packed with practical information, photos and illustrations that will help you identify trees throughout the year. It covers all of Great Britain and Ireland’s native trees and shrubs as well as a range of ornamental and widely planted trees from other areas of the world. This guide also offers an overview of tree biology and ecology, describes the importance of trees as habitats and presents a brief history of British and Irish treescapes.Includes more than 3,000 photographs and 270 illustrations showing key identification features of each tree and highlighting some of the animals, plants, fungi and lichens that depend on itCovers all 113 native trees and shrubs, including all 42 currently recognised Whitebeam species, as well as 190 common non-native species and subspeciesFeatures keys that allow easy, accurate comparison of similar species, up-to-date distribution maps and charts that summarise when trees flower, fruit and leafExplains how you can help with practical tree conservation

A highly illustrated and portable identification guide to the most common wild flowers and other plantsThis innovative photographic guide covers the most common wild flowers and other plants found in Britain and Ireland, as defined by the very latest distribution maps. It is designed so that anyone faced with an unfamiliar wild plant can confidently put a name to the species or recognise that it is a less common plant needing further investigation. The identification process is based on standard botanical features that are straightforwardly described, clearly illustrated and supported by a simple visual key to families. This book can be your springboard into the wider world of botanical identification, wherever you are, and of plants both common and rare.Covers the plants most likely to be seen, including those in coastal areasIncludes more than 3,800 colour photographs, with macro images of key features when neededFeatures a friendly, easy-to-use design and text written in plain English, with essential botanical terms described and illustrated