Birds of the Cotswolds: a new breeding atlas

Recent local atlases have all tended to be of a very high quality, but this one stands out for the sheer level of professionalism and clarity. The area covered encompasses 13 10km squares, within Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and a tiny bit of Wiltshire. Habitats are varied and, with the exception of Cirencester, the habitations tend to be small. An introductory section highlighting the habitats and methodology used is followed by the species accounts. Each species is given a double-page spread, with text, photo and distribution maps. The base map is coloured and shows elevation and the major rivers. The 10km grid is superimposed on this and bird distribution is shown as dots, different sizes meaning Possible, Probable and Confirmed Breeding. Additional grids show the results of the previous breeding atlas 20 years ago, and change in distribution over that period. A box gives details of the species status, both within the region and in a national context. A beautifully presented atlas of a beautiful part of the country.

Book reviewed by Su Gough