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 guide to edible mushrooms by one of Europe’s leading fungi expertsIn this beautifully illustrated introductory guide, Jens Petersen shows how to successfully identify and forage for edible mushrooms, and then how to prepare them for the table to ensure a delicious culinary experience, even if you're a first-time forager.Accessible and user-friendly, the book opens with a substantial introduction to fungi—what to look for, where to find them and how to collect and cook them. Other topics include edible and poisonous fungi, conserving mushrooms and other uses of fungi. The book then covers the most common major groups, including morels, wood cauliflower, polypores, boletes, tooth fungi, chanterelles, horn of plenty, brittlegills, milkcaps, agarics, puffballs and jelly fungi. For many of these groups, notable subkinds are given their own treatment. With practice, the book will enable you to identify mushrooms such as yellow chanterelles, blueing boletes with orange tube mouths, green brittlegills and milkcaps with orange milk.Featuring more than 400 stunning colour photographs and more than forty black-and-white illustrations, this book will enhance the experience of every mushroom forager and wild-table chef.

The most comprehensive single-volume photographic guide to Europe’s birds ever produced—from the authors of the acclaimed Britain’s BirdsCovering more than 900 species, and illustrated with 4,700 photographs, Europe’s Birds is the most comprehensive, authoritative and ambitious single-volume photographic guide to Europe’s birds ever produced. Easy-to-use, practical and accessible, this guide provides the information necessary for birdwatchers of all abilities to name any bird they see. Detailed descriptions cover the birds in all their plumages—male, female, breeding, non-breeding, adult and immatures, as well as distinctive subspecies. The clear text covers all aspects of identification, including moult and vocalizations, and provides details on range, status and habitat. An unrivalled selection of photographs, chosen to be as informative as possible, makes this a beautiful book to enjoy, as well as an up-to-date and essential source of identification knowledge.Europe’s Birds is produced by the same team that created Britain’s Birds, which has been described as “without doubt the best photo guide on the market” (Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert). The authors include top-class wildlife photographers, writers and editors, and an imaginative, highly skilled designer. All are experienced birdwatchers themselves, who know what is needed in an identification guide for birdwatchers living or travelling in Europe.Illustrates all 928 species recorded in Europe, including established introductionsFeatures 4,700 stunning photographs showing the birds as you really see themFocuses on identification, covering all plumages and subspeciesProvides detailed comparison of similar and difficult speciesIncludes details of moult, vocalizations, status and favoured habitatsContains 540 maps, prepared in association with BirdLife International

The go-to photographic guide to all the damselflies and dragonflies recorded in Europe, including the Macaronesian Islands and western TurkeyEurope's Dragonflies is a comprehensive, lavishly illustrated and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Europe. Written by two well-travelled experts, the book covers all 140 resident and vagrant species recorded, focussing on the field identification of adult insects. Concise species profiles highlight key identification features and provide information on behaviour, habitat preferences, distribution, flight periods, status and conservation. Other sections cover identification tips, conservation status and legislation. Presenting an unsurpassed selection of images of the highest quality, this is the go-to guide for anyone wishing to know more about these amazing and fascinating insects.Comprehensive coverage of every species of damselfly and dragonfly recorded in EuropeStunning colour plates showing males, females, immatures, colour forms, subspecies and typical habitat for every speciesOver 1,200 superb photographs, supplemented with illustrations of fine detailsDetailed profiles for the 140 resident and vagrant speciesUnique comparison plates for difficult groupsEasy to use by beginners and experts alike, avoiding technical terms

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

A new, improved and thoroughly updated edition of the bestselling photographic guide—the only one to cover every bird, in every plumage, ever recorded in Britain and IrelandA bestselling guide since it was first published, Britain's Birds has quickly established itself as the go-to photographic identification guide to the birds of Great Britain and Ireland—the most comprehensive, up-to-date, practical and user-friendly book of its kind. Acclaimed by birdwatchers of all kinds, from the beginner to the most experienced, the guide has now been thoroughly revised and updated to make it even better than before. Combining the finest of identification guide content and presentation, this eagerly awaited second edition preserves the best of the first edition while covering twelve newly recorded species and offering a host of improvements that make identification easier.Provides comprehensive coverage of all the birds ever recorded in Britain and IrelandDescribes and illustrates all plumages likely to be encounteredFeatures more than 3,200 stunning photographs carefully selected to show the birds as you really see themOutlines simple steps to help you identify any bird you seePresents simple and accurate comparisons of similar and difficult speciesNew features include:Coverage of 12 new species recorded since the first edition plus revisions to reflect the latest taxonomyCoverage of all subspeciesImproved identification aids, including more than 400 new photos, enhanced photo annotations and many redesigned platesFully revised species accounts, including the latest information on identification features, status, numbers, geographical range and date ranges for all plumages that may be seen during only part of the year

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