Undiscovered Scotland

 

Produced in conjunction with the Scottish Ornithologist's Club this is an ideal pocket guide to over 180 species of birds found throughout Scotland, first published in 1994 and now available in a new edition. Each species is illustrated in full colour with a comprehensive description, plus the bird's English, Latin and (new this edition) Gaelic names. The ideal starter for the non-expert who simply wants to know more about the world they see around them while out and about in Scotland.

For ease of use the birds are grouped together by the type of habitat in which they can be found, including gardens, farmland, woodland, freshwater, heath and hills, and coasts. This makes identification much easier. When you see an unknown species you don't have to hunt through the whole book to find out what it is: instead you can simply run through the section relating to the habitat you are in at the time. This is the ideal book for someone who wants to whether what they are looking at is a Fulmar, a Great Black-backed Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Herring Gull or a Kittiwake.

The book comes complete with a general introduction about birds and habitats. It also has a places to visit section, which gives details of over 70 of the best sites for bird-watching, plus directions to them and what to expect to see when you get there. Here you will find sites spread all the way from the Mull of Galloway RSPB Reserve, to Hermaness National Nature Reserve, at the north end of Unst in Shetland.