Some Corners of a Birdwatcher's World Book

This is the first of two books which Mike Holmes has written for all the people who, in one way or another, are interested in birds, be they beginners or experienced and knowledgeable birdwatchers. It includes those who make trips to the far corners of Britain and also overseas, sometimes especially in search of birds, at others when the birds that they see are just an interesting part of their travel. The author grew up in the Berkshire countryside and birds were very much part of his family's interest. He describes how when still at an early age, he learnt to identify and note the habits of all the many species about him. Also, he was taken by his mother to see rarities, such as the butcher bird, which in the nineteen thirties, nested on Bucklebury Common. However, even the common species such as sparrows and starlings, always fascinated him and that fascination has remained with him as a lifetime interest. The result has been that wherever he has been in the world and whatever his occupation might have been at the time, he was able to observe the birds around him, to watch them and to take note of their ways. Apart from stories about birdwatching and the habits of birds in many parts of Britain, Mike Holmes describes his experiences in Texas, India and Africa, also whilst at sea in the Merchant Navy and during his years as an airline pilot. Throughout the book, the author's deep love of birds and knowledge of them shows up, as does his appreciation and affinity for the country around him, wherever in the world, that might happen to be.Read More