Birds of Meirionnydd

This avifauna updates the previous review undertaken by Peter Hope Jones in 1974. It is a compact book and has an attractive cover photo of a Red Grouse. Its 212 pages are packed with information and colour photographs of 16 landscapes and habitats. An introductory chapter provides useful maps and details of the geography and varied topography of Meirionydd, its diverse habitats (from coasta,l through wooded valleys to mountains and moorlands) as well as of its principal birding sites and the history of bird recording in the county since 1800.

The bulk of the book comprises the systematic list of the 283 recorded species. Species status accounts, often amounting to 1-2 pages, are usually subdivided into three time periods: Historical (1800-1973), Recent (1974-2007) and Current (2008-2011). The first category draws upon the 1974 avifauna while the latter two benefit greatly from the results of BTO atlases and other surveys of breeding and winter populations. The author was himself heavily involved in the most recent distribution mapping survey. From these surveys, a wealth of information has been distilled to describe local distributions, abundance and population trends. Birds of Meirionydd is an important addition to the regional avifaunas of Wales, and it should be an essential guide for anyone wishing to explore this attractive county.

Book reviewed by Peter Dare