Where to Watch Birds in Wales

Following the long-established format of the Where to Watch Birds in… guides, a newly-updated fifth edition of this guide to birdwatching sites in Wales is now available. The addition of new locations brings this volume to a total of 142 sites. Most of the premier birdwatching locations in Wales have an entry; nonetheless, this is not an exhaustive guide, so other worthy and popular birdwatching locations are necessarily overlooked. Likewise, many ‘sites’ cover very large areas and are themselves comprised of a number of distinct locations.

The book itself is nicely produced and a good size to carry into the field (or in holiday baggage, for those visiting from elsewhere!). Each site is presented according to the familiar, tried-and-tested formula of these guides. A basic map picks out access and parking information along with key named locations, and enough information is provided to identify the site’s features on more detailed OS maps. Text provides information about the site’s habitat, typical species, and when and how to visit. A final ‘calendar’ box gives information about what species to expect year-round and in each part of the year. The 14 vice-counties of Wales are used to sort sites into conveniently-sized chapters, with a separate map of sites within each vice-county. Whilst this seems a sensible way to subdivide the book into manageable chunks, one might question the decision to order the chapters alphabetically by vice-county names, which occasionally leads to geographically-neighbouring sites becoming separated within the pages. For example, the Little Orme (page 104, Caernarfonshire) and Rhos-on-Sea (page 160, Denbighshire) are in such close proximity that they comprise opposite ends of a single WeBS site, but a reader unfamiliar with the area might struggle to identify that the two can readily be visited in a single trip. A final index to species will allow readers with particular target species to quickly identify the sites where they stand the most chance of success.

The site accounts are well-researched and written with advice from experienced local birders. Inclusion of historical rarities at some sites is a nice touch but dooms the book to being immediately out-of-date (even as I type, twitchers descend upon RSPB Conwy to view a Red-rumped Swallow, which will surely warrant a mention in a future sixth edition!).

Overall, this book will be a very useful travel guide for birders visiting Wales from elsewhere, especially those who have not previously visited and have little idea of where to begin. Those wishing to target sightings of Welsh specialities such as Pied Flycatcher or Chough would also benefit from a copy. Those with existing local knowledge may not find much within these pages that they do not already know, but may still find interest within the site accounts.

Book reviewed by Callum Macgregor